By Thomas Grant Jr. A full slate of high school basketball featuring several ranked Midlands teams is scheduled for the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, with multiple tournaments and showcase events set to tip off across the region. Two Columbia high schools will host single-day boys and girlsContinue Reading
Buddhist monks participating in the national Walk for Peace pilgrimage recently visited the Columbia area as part of their journey from Texas to Washington, D.C. The monks are traveling on foot to promote peace, compassion, and nonviolence through walking meditation and community engagement. During their time in the Midlands, theyContinue Reading
At its first regularly scheduled meeting of 2026, Richland County Council re-elected Councilwoman Jesica Mackey as chair and Councilman Derrek Pugh as vice chair. Mackey, who represents District 9, and Pugh, who represents District 2, are entering the second year of their second terms on County Council. Both were firstContinue Reading
Pictured is Dutch Fork center Jake Bogan with the slam dunk against Chapin. Photos by Thomas Grant Jr. By Thomas Grant Jr. The top of Region 4-5A in girls basketball looks similar to football. Both Dutch Fork teams and Irmo girls are undefeated in region play through the first twoContinue Reading
IRMO — Fans of soul and rock music can celebrate the legendary sounds of Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner this Saturday, Jan. 17, at Harbison Theatre, when acclaimed vocalist Alfreda Gerald takes the stage for a special tribute performance. Gerald brings decades of international performance experience, having shared the stageContinue Reading
By Sarah Ostergaard LexRich5 Schools offers different programs at different schools. That said, most students attend their zoned school (and school zones are always a hot topic since Chapin is overcrowded, but the possibility of shifting school attendance lines toward Irmo causes much hooting and hollering) and families have theContinue Reading
By Radley West “You don’t need to be extreme, just consistent.” When most people think about reaching their fitness goals, they picture big changes, intense training schedules, strict diets, and dramatic transformations. While those stories make great headlines, the truth is that most real success comes from something far lessContinue Reading
By Jennifer Tardy You start the month feeling motivated and productive. Then, a couple of weeks in, your energy drops. You feel wired but exhausted, reach for caffeine, and wonder why your body suddenly feels sluggish. Many people assume low energy is a personal shortcoming—that if they pushed harder orContinue Reading
Pictured above is the author and James Dickey, June 24, 1995. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Each January, my thoughts turn to a fellow Georgian. James Dickey died January 19, 1997, of the same disease that took my mother’s life. On June 24, 1995, I interviewed Dickey for ReckonContinue Reading
Former interim principal and longtime assistant administrator Chad Raynor succeeds Cassy Young, who was appointed the district’s coordinator of support staff. IRMO — School District Five has appointed Chad Raynor as the new principal of Piney Woods Elementary School. Raynor replaces Cassy Young, who was recently named the district’s coordinatorContinue Reading
As we approach the 2026–2027 school year, School District Five is implementing a new redistricting plan that will take effect on July 1, 2026. This strategic initiative aims to better serve our students and community while minimizing disruptions. Our new school attendance map is now live on the district websiteContinue Reading