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
IRMO, S.C. — The Irmo Town Council honored a milestone in local sports history during its recent meeting, recognizing the 1980 Irmo High School Yellow Jackets football team for winning the state championship. Mayor Bill Danielson presented a proclamation on behalf of the council honoring the players, coaches, managers andContinue 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
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
Westminster Presbyterian Church will hold a garage sale October 3 from 8 am – noon. Shop for deals on household goods, toys, clothes, shoes, linens, sporting goods, jewelry, books, and other treasures. Free coffee will be available. All proceeds benefit Westminster Presbyterian Church missions and ministries. The church is atContinue Reading
The Lake Murray-Irmo Rotary named Sawyer Davis, a fifth grader at Dutch Fork Elementary, their Student of the Month for September. “Sawyer is the perfect example of Service Above Self. He is academically gifted, helps with the morning news show and goes out of his way to help his classmatesContinue Reading
Irmo Elementary School teacher Erin Backman and Karina Burgess have been named the Irmo Chamber’s Student and Teacher of the Month. “Mrs. Backman is a 4th grade teacher and currently serves as our Teacher of the Year. She is a wonderful representation of what makes our school special,” Acting PrincipalContinue Reading
Photo: Pinckney holding book cover courtesy of Sporting Classics Daily. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net In Burning The Days, James Salter wrote of his fellow fighter pilots after Korea vanished from his gunsights. “Once in a while in a locker room or bar I would hear a remark thatContinue Reading
By Sarah Ostergaard In July, I wrote about an upcoming public comment period for the draft Social Studies standards to be used in South Carolina schools in the next standards cycle, starting in 2028. The draft standards are now open for public review and feedback through October 9. Education affectsContinue Reading
Rudolph BallentineAug. 16, 1941 – Sept. 7, 2026 Rudolph Ballentine, a psychiatrist and pioneering voice in integrative medicine, died Sept. 7 at age 85. A self-described “hayseed” from the South Carolina Piedmont, Ballentine spent his life exploring the connections among the body, mind and spirit while traveling the world, writingContinue Reading
IRMO, S.C. — Before the okra starts frying and the festivities get underway, multi-platinum country artist Collin Raye will help kick off Okra Strut weekend in Irmo. Raye will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College. The acoustic performance is being held inContinue Reading
The Columbia Philatelic Society will hold its winter stamp show Sept. 25 and 26 at the Tri-City Leisure Center, 485 Brooks Ave., in West Columbia. The show will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Fourteen professional stamp dealers willContinue Reading
This picture of a tennis player hitting a topspin forehand shows several similarities to the golf swing just before impact. Notice how the player has shifted his weight forward and turned his body toward the target. His head has also started to turn, allowing his eyes to see down theContinue Reading