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
HOPKINS – Paying county taxes just got easier for Lower Richland residents. Richland County Treasurer Kendra L. Dove cut the ribbon October 8 on the county’s first full-service tax payment kiosk, located inside the Magistrate’s Office at 5245 Lower Richland Boulevard. The new touchscreen kiosk allows taxpayers to search forContinue Reading
(Photo and story by Thomas Grant Jr.) COLUMBIA, S.C. – WACH-TV anchor Brian McConchie, pictured with Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon, successfully defended his title at the 6th Annual Celebrity Boiled Peanut Eating Contest held at the South Carolina State Fair. Sponsored by the Lexington County Blowfish, the contest featuredContinue Reading
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Kick off your Halloween celebrations at Saluda Shoals Park’s Trick-or-Treat Trail on Saturday, October 18, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Leo’s Landing. Designed for children ages 12 and under, the event offers a fun and safe way to enjoy Halloween festivities along the park’s decoratedContinue Reading
IRMO, S.C. – Get ready for a spooktacular morning of fun and fitness at the Northwest Family YMCA’s 2025 Pumpkin Run, happening Saturday, October 18, starting at 7 a.m. The event features a 5K race and a Kids’ 1-Mile Fun Run, plus fall festival activities for all ages. The morningContinue Reading
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Registration is now open for Columbia’s 19th annual Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic Violence, set for Saturday, October 25, at Page Ellington Park, 2220 Gregg Street. The event, held each October during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, encourages residents to unite in raising awareness about abuse and supporting survivorsContinue Reading
The front entrance to New Hope Baptist Church, Lincolnton, Georgia. By Tom Poland, A Southern WriterTomPoland.net For the first time in my life I was alone in my church. The old Regulator wall clock ticked away as I ticked away the families who had walked through their last door. Ivys,Continue Reading
IRMO, S.C. – Capital City/Lake Murray Country (CCLMC) is proud to announce that Chef Chris Williams of Roy’s Grille will represent Team Lake Murray Country at the World Food Championships (WFC), taking place October 16–19, 2025, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Williams will compete in the Sandwich category, bringing his signature SouthernContinue Reading
By Radley West When GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy first hit the market, I’ll be honest—I was skeptical. As a health and fitness professional with over 16 years of experience helping people build stronger, healthier lives, I’ve seen plenty of so-called “miracle” weight loss solutions come and go. MostContinue Reading
By Jennifer Tardy Even the most perfect nutrition plan can fall flat if your body is stuck in fight-or-flight mode. When you’re constantly in survival mode, your body doesn’t prioritize healing—it holds on to fat, suppresses digestion, and throws hormones out of balance. That’s why nervous system regulation is aContinue Reading
The Horaltic Pose By Tom Poland: A Southern WriterTomPoland.net Back roads never disappoint me. Such was the case with a road, paved just a tad, but deliciously dirt the rest of the way. As I suspected, its name, Sardis, comes from the Bible, though it could be a family name.Continue Reading