Lake Sweep Nets Over 15,000 Pounds of Trash Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KMB) led a successful Lake Sweep/River Sweep on September 20, 2025, removing more than 15,170 pounds of litter, recyclables, and bulky debris from Lake Murray and nearby waterways. The cleanup is part of South Carolina’s annual Beach Sweep/RiverContinue Reading
My lost geisha By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net It was the photograph in my father’s war album. Her white kimono. Hair black as onyx. Pale, serene face. Perfect bone structure. Gloss, a sheen upon her hair. On one side, a nameless GI. On the other, my father, not muchContinue Reading
The Columbia Philatelic Society (CPS) recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, marking nearly a century of fostering interest in stamp collecting and postal history across the Midlands. Founded in 1935, CPS is one of the oldest continuously operating stamp clubs in South Carolina. The organization currently has more than 50 activeContinue Reading
COLUMBIA – The Cooperative Ministry is seeking volunteers for the 2026 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which provides free tax preparation services to individuals and families with low-to-moderate incomes. Since 2010, The Cooperative Ministry’s VITA program has prepared more than 70,000 tax returns, returning over $88 million in refundsContinue Reading
By Jennifer Tardy, Certified Holistic Nutritionist Each week, I share practical wellness tips and research-backed insights to help you fuel your body, balance your hormones, and boost your energy naturally. This week’s focus is on protecting brain health, strengthening the immune system, and embracing the power of real food. StudyContinue Reading
Dr. Tom Mullikin receives lofty honor from Chief Justice John W. Kittredge By W. Thomas Smith Jr. A meeting of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) Board of Directors was pleasantly and unexpectedly interrupted by Chief Justice John W. Kittredge, South Carolina Supreme Court, who approached the podium andContinue Reading
By Radley West The Two Most Detrimental and Overused Phrases in American Culture Today: “It’s Not Fair” and “I Deserve It.” In a time when motivational quotes plaster our screens and self-help slogans promise quick fixes, two seemingly harmless phrases are quietly chipping away at the very fabric of resilienceContinue Reading
By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Photographs speak if you listen to them. That curling, cracked Polaroid of your deceased uncle and aunt tells a story as surely as the photos of Iwo Jima and V-J Day in Times Square images do. A world entire lives inside the four wallsContinue Reading
Chris Williams’ Carolina Korean Cheesesteak (left) and Pesto & Pimento Lobster Grilled Cheese served with Coconut Curry Tomato Basil Soup (right). Chef Chris Williams Wins 2nd Place in Sandwich Category at the World Food Championships Local Chef Shines Nationally with His Signature Southern-Korean Fusion IRMO, S.C. – Representing Team LakeContinue Reading
The Town of Irmo honored the life and legacy of Sammie Mathias during Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, presenting a special proclamation to the Mathias family. Sammie was the heart and soul of Mathias Sandwich Shop, a longtime local favorite and true cornerstone of the community. Known for his warmContinue Reading
The Prisma Health Amphitheater at Moore Park will come alive with the soulful sounds of Marvin Gaye and Motown on Thursday, October 24, beginning at 7 p.m. Grammy Award winner Jackie’s Boy will headline the evening, performing timeless Motown favorites and hits from Marvin Gaye’s legendary catalog. Local favorite MoonkatdaddiContinue Reading
COLUMBIA, S.C. (October 20, 2025) – The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) will temporarily close the I-20 Westbound ramp to I-26 Westbound (Exit 64B) overnight on Wednesday, October 22, beginning at 11 p.m. The ramp is expected to reopen by 5 a.m. on Thursday, October 23. The closure isContinue Reading
COLUMBIA – One Columbia for Arts and Culture has announced its new Call for Walls campaign, an initiative to find new locations for public murals throughout the city. The program invites property owners to submit their exterior walls for consideration in upcoming art projects. The organization hopes to secure atContinue Reading
By Mike DuBose In today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, unwanted phone calls, texts, and emails have become more than just nuisances — they’re serious threats. From relentless telemarketers to cunning scammers, cyber thieves, robot callers, and criminals are constantly devising skillful ways to invade our privacy, steal money, and exploit personalContinue Reading
Red, messy, slick, and a trademark of the American South. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Drizzle drifted and spritzed as if it were January except it was October. Mists coated my camera. In its viewfinder red mud glistened in rain that slickened it to slip-sliding away status and thatContinue Reading