Thirteen students in District Five have earned Firefighter I Certificates through the Fire & Rescue course at the Center for Advanced Technical Studies (The Center). The Fire & Rescue class is a year long course. In the first year, students earn the following certifications: FEMA; I-100; I-200; I-700; I-800; FirstContinue Reading

Opinion By Congressman Joe WilsonMay 22, 2026 America is once again engaged in a national debate over congressional redistricting. While redistricting has always been a constitutional responsibility carried out by the states, recent years have seen increasingly aggressive partisan efforts designed to reshape congressional maps for political advantage. These effortsContinue Reading

By Radley West Vacation has a funny way of making people think they have two options: stay perfectly on track or completely fall off. Most people choose the second one. Listen, you’re supposed to relax on vacation. But there’s a difference between enjoying your time and coming home feeling likeContinue Reading

More than 100 powerboats expected; helicopter tours offer new way to view the event The Dam Boat Run returns to Lake Murray May 28–30, bringing more than 100 powerboats from across the country to the Midlands. This year introduces a new way for spectators to experience the event, with publicContinue Reading

The fourth annual Black Eats Week 803 celebration returns June 22 – 28, and registration is now open for Black-owned restaurants, food trucks, caterers, private chefs, bakeries, and creameries throughout the Midlands and surrounding areas. An official Best of Black Eats Week 803 Festival and Food Competition will be heldContinue Reading

Columbia, S.C. – One of the Midlands’ most beloved summer traditions will return Saturday, July 4, 2026, as Lake Murray’s Independence Day Celebration lights up the sky with fireworks launched from Spence Island and Dreher Island. Hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board (CCLMC), the annual patriotic eventContinue Reading

By Thomas Grant Jr. After waiting out three days due to rainy weather, Saluda softball finally punched its ticket back to the Class 2A final. The Lady Tigers defeated Chesnee 7-2 to win the Upper State title. They jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning after capitalizingContinue Reading

By Thomas Grant Jr. For the 21st consecutive season—and 11th in Lexington County—summer will once again feature Coastal Plain League action from the Lexington County Blowfish. The new season kicks off Thursday on the road against the Florence Flamingos. On Friday, the Blowfish officially open their home schedule against theContinue Reading