By Akil E. Ross, Sr., Ed.D.Superintendent How do you know when times have changed? I knew times were changing after attending the School District Five teacher and staff hiring event on Saturday, January 11th. The event was attended by many highly qualified educators and role models, which built my excitementContinue Reading
The Board of Directors of the South Carolina Philharmonic announced yesterday that Music Director Morihiko Nakahara has renewed his contract with the organization through June 30th, 2029. A native of Kagoshima, Japan, Morihiko Nakahara has served as Music Director of the South Carolina Philharmonic since 2008. During the 2024-2025 season,Continue Reading
IRMO – Registration for the 4-year-old tuition-based pre-kindergarten program, EXCEL (Exposing Children to Early Learning), in Lexington-Richland School District Five at Irmo Elementary begins on February 10, 2024. Enrollment will be on a first-come, first-served basis and will be limited to 20 students. All additional children will be placed onContinue Reading
February 3, 2025 [Columbia, SC] — Columbia Eye, the Midlands largest medical surgical ophthalmology practice, is proud to announce the overwhelmingly positive results of a year-long patient customer service survey. Throughout 2024, Columbia Eye used a third-party platform to survey patients in several measures of customer service. The results showedContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. After two decades coaching Saluda High School football, Stewart Young was seeking another challenge. Having led the Tigers to their first state title since 1963 five years earlier, the 41-year-old had established himself as a town legend. Yet the opportunity to take over a Class 5AContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Cory Helms is coaching again in Lexington County. This time, the former University of South Carolina offensive lineman will lead his own program. On Wednesday, he was introduced as the new head football coach at Pelion High School. Helms replaces Dann Holland, who will remain atContinue Reading
IRMO – Irmo High School’s director of school counseling Dorothya Nero has been selected as the 2025 School Counselor of the Year in South Carolina by the Palmetto State School Counselor Association (PSSCA). The award is given annually to a school counselor who has demonstrated their ability to provide leadershipContinue Reading
LEXINGTON, S.C. – Lexington County deputies have arrested a man accused of attacking a woman outside her home and stalking her at her job. Joey Miles Strickland, 41, is charged with first-degree assault and battery, kidnapping, and stalking, according to arrest warrants. “The sequence of events between Strickland and theContinue Reading
Special to the Lake Murray News With heavy hearts, the Midlands Striper Club held its monthly Lake Murray tournament out of Acapulco on Jan. 18. ] Despite rain and cold temperatures all day and the passing of long time club member, friend, and mentor, Marshal West, 16 teams participated inContinue Reading
Catherine Huddle’s argument for partisan school board elections is misguided on so many fronts. First, she used the argument that only 58% of the actual voters, who turned out in November 2024, voted in school board elections. That is actually a good thing in this day age. The 42% whoContinue Reading
LEXINGTON, S.C. – A White Knoll High School teacher is accused of assaulting a student at the school. Fritzie Suerto Refamonte, 45, is charged with third-degree assault and battery, according to an arrest warrant. “When we became aware of this incident, we opened an investigation and determined Refamonte allegedly assaultedContinue Reading