School District Five has named finalists for its 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year award. The finalists are: Anna Maria Hinson, a Spring Hill High School English teacher; Kathryn Meetze, a Reading Interventionist at H. E. Corley Elementary School; and Patrick Smallwood, a Biomedical Technology teacher at the Center for AdvancedContinue Reading
District Five has named finalists for its 2026-2027 Support Employee of the Year award. The finalists are: Jessica Catalano, a special education assistant at H. E. Corley Elementary School; Jeanette Farr, a literacy lab assistant at CrossRoads Intermediate School; and Dina LaBarca, a school secretary/bookkeeper at Ballentine Elementary School. CatalanoContinue Reading
IRMO – Lexington-Richland School District Five Superintendent Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr. was surprised April 20 at the School District Five School Board meeting with the prestigious South Carolina National School Public Relations Association (SC/NSPRA) Administrator of the Year Award. The announcement was made by Toni Chewning, President of SC/NSPRA.Continue Reading
By Thomas Grant, Jr. River Bluff High School lacrosse player Payton Hart is recognized after scoring her 100th career goal against Irmo High School. Hart, who recently signed with Lander University, reached the milestone during the matchup.Continue Reading
School business partners, mentors, volunteers, and parent-teacher organizations gathered at Seven Oaks Park April 2 to be honored and celebrated as an integral part of the success of Lexington-Richland School District Five. “Our volunteers are an instrumental part of our success story,” Superintendent Dr. Akil Ross said. “The strength ofContinue Reading
Wingard’s Market has announced they received the most votes across the country and have been named the winner for the USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards for #1 Best Plant Nursery; earning national recognition as one of the top garden centers in the United States. The honor follows a processContinue Reading
J. Kenneth “Kenny” Mullis Jr., chairman of the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District, has received the 2025 Hugh Hammond Bennett Southeast Regional Producer Award from the National Conservation Planning Partnership. The award recognizes Mullis’ leadership and commitment to the development and implementation of effective conservation practices. Mullis owns andContinue Reading
One Columbia for Arts and Culture has announced Larry Andrew Hembree as the 2026 recipient of the Stephen G. Morrison Visionary Award, recognizing his leadership, creativity, and lasting contributions to the region’s arts community. The award ceremony will take place March 20 from 6:30–8 p.m. at the Koger Center forContinue Reading
Keith Vitali becomes the second Vitali brother to receive the Order of the Palmetto By Chris Carter Keith Vitali, world-champion martial artist, Hollywood martial-arts movie star, former #1-ranked U.S. karate champion, and one of BLACK BELT magazine’s top 10 fighters of all time, received the Order of the Palmetto duringContinue Reading
Media Personality Curtis Wilson honored with Order of the Palmetto By W. Thomas Smith Jr. Richland County Sheriff’s Department (RCSD) Deputy Curtis Wilson, an anchor and law-enforcement analyst for On Patrol: LIVE and news anchor for ABC Columbia (WOLO-TV), recently received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest award,Continue Reading
Dutch Fork Elementary Academy of Environmental Sciences has officially been recognized as a 2025 Nationally Certified Magnet School by Magnet Schools of America (MSA). “I am incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication shown by all Dutch Fork Elementary School teachers, staff, and students,” Dutch Fork Elementary School PrincipalContinue Reading