The Columbia City Council conducted a meeting Tuesday, April 16. Columbia City Manager Teresa Wilson made a presentation about the City of Columbia Rebranding and Logo Reveal. Dr. John H. Dozier Day Proclamation, Second Chance Month Proclamation, and National Small Business Week 2024 Proclamation were received. Diane Sumpter, president and chief executive officer of DESA, Inc., gave a South Carolina Minority Business Development Agency Report . Council approved the purchase of Asbestos Surveys and Air Monitoring Services for the Code Enforcement Division. Council approved the purchase of eight ..read more

Representatives of each Charter Anniversary Grant recipient (l-r): Jeffrey Armstrong, executive director of Family Promise of the Midlands; Joey Huggins, executive director of Home Works of America; Jon Hethcox, president of the Kiwanis Club of Columbia; Julie Miller, chief clinical officer of Mirci; and Nettie Reaties, program manager of Power in Changing. The Kiwanis Club of Columbia proudly commemorated its 104th anniversary, marking over a century of serving the community. As the club celebrated this milestone, it announced the recipients of annual grants, totaling $11,000, which were aw ..read more

The Columbia Airport has recently launched a new virtual wayfinding tool with UnDelay. Passengers typically struggle with navigating through the airport. To help the everyday traveler, an innovation was created. Travelers typically go to Google Maps or their respective airline apps to help with airport navigation; however, the lack of visibility of places and integration issues have forced airports to invest more in wayfinding to reduce customer route confusion. Typically, Google Maps sources pictures from the public or uses the Google Street View car to take images and integrate them in its m ..read more

Richland County Council met for a special called meeting April 9. A resolution recognizing Black Maternal Health Week was approved. A proclamation recognizing April 27 as Richland County Alumnae Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated Day was presented. A proclamation recognizing the Ridge View High School Boys Basketball Team as AAAA State Champions was presented. An ordinance authorizing the imposition of a one percent Transportation Sales and Use Tax within Richland County pursuant to Section 4-27-20 of the Code of Laws of South Carolina 1976, as amended, was approved on first rea ..read more

Throughout the week of April 14–April 20, the City of Columbia Office of Violent Crime Prevention is partnering with several community organizations to host a week-long series of events highlighting Youth Violence Prevention Week. Garden Rededication In 2014, the R.I.C.H. program established a Garden of Peace as a memorial for those lives lost to gun violence. At this event the community will rededicate this garden and through prayer and spoken word acknowledge these ancestors of all ages. Refreshments will be provided at the end of the event—Sunday April 14, 2–4 p.m., Pacific Park, 200 Wayne ..read more

The Columbia City Council met Tuesday, April 2. The Honorable Daniel J. Rickenmann, Mayor, called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m. •Council proclaimed April 14–April 20 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. •The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Award was presented to the Columbia-Richland 911 Communications Center. •Council approved a new contract for an E-Recruitment and Onboarding System. •Council approved a new Sole Source contract for fitness court equipment as requested by the Parks & Recreation Department. •Council approved the purchase of a forkl ..read more

Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann is exploring ways for residents to live longer, healthier lives. On Monday, April 1 he held a public forum to discuss one such way. The forum, held at Segra Ball Park, was a chance for residents to learn about Blue Zones, geographical areas with low rates of chronic disease and longer life expectancy. There are half a dozen Blue Zones in the world: Loma Linda in the United States; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Sardinia, Italy; Icaria, Greece; Singapore, Singapore; and Okinawa, Japan. Margaret Brown, president of business development for Blue Zones, spoke on the Power Nin ..read more

Across South Carolina, u-pick strawberry farms are preparing to welcome visitors onto their farms to fill their buckets with sweet, sun-ripe, bright red strawberries. Strawberries are among the earliest widely available spring crops in our state. Many strawberry farms are already open for u-pick activities, while others plan to open in the next week or two. Visit scfarmfun.org for an up-to-date listing of agritourism farms in South Carolina. Enter “u-pick” in the search field to find local farms. The post U-pick strawberry season kicks off spring agritourism activities in S.C. first appeared o ..read more

Photo contributed by Jim Hamilton Alina Scott (l) and her dad, William Scott (r), recently attended and gave a presentation at a meeting of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Chapter 242 at Jim Hamilton-LB Owens Airport. Alina flew her Aerolite 103 “ultralight” from Mount Pleasant to Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in June 2023 at the age of 13 with her father giving chase and providing ground support. The Scotts are pictured with Jim Hamilton. EAA Chapter 242 is the local chapter of the Experimental Aviation Association, having served the area’s aviation community since 1965. The ..read more

Ashley McJunkin, gas operations division manager for Dominion Energy South Carolina As Women’s History Month continues, Dominion Energy is spotlighting two women who have flourished in traditionally male-dominated roles while helping to provide natural gas and electricity to more than one million customers in the Palmetto State. Ashley McJunkin, gas operations division manager, has been with Dominion Energy South Carolina for 11 years. Rose Jackson, director of fuel commodities, has almost 32 years of experience with the company. McJunkin leads a team of 70 operations frontline and support p ..read more