Bottled in Meridian, Mississippi — A long-distance winner. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net I didn’t call them pop. I didn’t call them sodas. I called them Cokes. Cokes could be Pepsis, Fantas (remember those?), Orange Crush, or RC Colas. Tossed out windows, Coke bottles waited along dirt roads, gravelContinue Reading
New Hope Church recently collected 161 stuffed animals for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s Victim Assistance Program. The stuffed animals are given to children who have experienced a traumatic event requiring a law enforcement response. Sergeant Radford expressed her appreciation for the church’s generous donation and said she wished communityContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. A ‘grand slam’ or a ‘boondoggle’? The answer would depend upon the side taken in regards to the proposed $77 million Lexington County sports complex. Last Tuesday, a public hearing was held by county council on the project. For close to two hours, speakers ranging fromContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. There’s a reason for optimism for Chapin High School football. It’s a new season and the Eagle players have spent the summer under new head coach Corey Helms looking to put last year’s winless campaign behind them. They get an opportunity to snap the 11-game losingContinue Reading
Last week, the South Carolina General Assembly passed the 2026–27 state budget conference report and sent it to the Governor. Getting to this point was not easy. The House and Senate had real disagreements over portions of the budget. But rather than allow those disagreements to hold up tax relief,Continue Reading
Global Expedition Leader now hosting South Carolina Public Radio program By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Dr. Tom Mullikin, director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), is now hosting INTO THE WILD, a fascinating public radio endeavor highlighting the people, places and conservation efforts that protect South Carolina’s naturalContinue Reading
The South Carolina Pediatric Alliance (SCPA) has announced that Dr. Alexandra Gaudin, MD, FAAP, has been named to Columbia Business Monthly’s 2026 Best & Brightest 35 and Under. The annual recognition honors rising leaders throughout the Midlands for professional achievement and contributions to their communities. Gaudin joined SCPA in 2025Continue Reading
The South Carolina Philharmonic has announced its 2026-27 season, “Find Your Sound,” a lineup of concerts exploring identity, connection and the power of music to reflect the human experience. The season at the Koger Center for the Arts includes six Capital Concerts, along with special performances designed to appeal toContinue Reading
Two Lexington-Richland School District Five educators received a special recognition at the district’s kickoff event on Aug. 7. Steve Padgett presented the keys to two new Honda vehicles to Anna Maria Hinson, District Five Teacher of the Year from Spring Hill High School, and Jeannette Farr, District Support Employee ofContinue Reading
The 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Championship presented by Native Watercraft has been rescheduled for October 15-17 on Lake Murray in Columbia, according to B.A.S.S. The championship will remain at its previously announced location, with only the event dates changing. B.A.S.S. said moving the championship to October will create greater opportunitiesContinue Reading
Lexington County Coroner Margaret Fisher is releasing the preliminary results of the autopsy of Jillian Hope Olson, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Deputy who died in the line of duty while diving on Lake Murray July 30. A forensic autopsy was performed at the Medical University of Charleston August 3Continue Reading
The proposed merger of Dominion Energy and NextEra Energy has moved another step forward as the South Carolina Public Service Commission (PSC) allows additional state officials and organizations to participate in the regulatory review. On Aug. 6, the PSC granted requests from South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith, Senate PresidentContinue Reading
Richland County Vector Control and the South Carolina Department of Public Health have confirmed the county’s first mosquito samples testing positive for West Nile virus during this year’s mosquito season. In response, Vector Control has increased surveillance in affected areas and will conduct targeted adult and larval mosquito treatments asContinue Reading
By Sarah Ostergaard Another tax-free weekend has passed. Every August, families spend significant amounts preparing children for a new school year. And there is real value in that preparation. A new backpack, fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils, and other supplies create excitement or ease nervousness about a new school year. AcquiringContinue Reading
Chapin Mayor Bill Mitchell is not in favor of some of the changes being proposed by his town council. The council is creating ordinances to give themselves more governing options after giving the mayor avote of ‘no confidence’ last month. Three different ordinances have been proposed which would involvethe wholeContinue Reading
Dear LexRich5 Family, Our District has been transformed. For the last three years, we have been planning Operation Transformation. As a result, we have restructured our educational program to ensure all elementary, middle, and high schools have the same grade levels and start times. We have redistricted our schools toContinue Reading