Briefs
by John Temple Ligon
      Making the best of a bad situation Charlotte- based Duke Energy Corp., trying to avoid layoffs this recession, will freeze salaries for its salaried professionals and its managers, about half of Duke's 18,000 employees. The other half, hourly- paid workers, will not be affected.
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Consortium convenes
Story and Photos by John Temple Ligon temple@thecolumbiastar.com
      The Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management met with the press for the first time last Thursday morning, Dec. 17, at the Strom Thurmond Wellness Center. Consortium charter member BlueCross BlueShield of S.C. was represented by CEO Ed Sellers, who said, "What's happening in Columbia, S.C.
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Mary Morgan Kerlagon of Russell and Jeffcoat
By John Temple Ligon temple@thecolumbiastar.com
      The Forrest Gump set location decisions were made with Columbia's Mary Morgan Kerlagon, as were the locations for GI Jane and The Patriot. Film set locations and house sites share similar approaches in appropriateness and availability. Both fields have practitioners always on the lookout, always scouting new locations.
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Folks about town
      John T. Lay Jr. has been selected as president of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys' Association. The Central Carolina REALTORS ® Association has named Elizabeth Webber- Akre as the 2009 REALTOR of the Year. Allstate Insurance Company has recognized Cynthia Weaver for high standards in customer satisfaction, customer retention, and financial service sales.
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Ceremony held for Aldersgate at Epworth Children's Home
Contributed by Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia
      The past presidents of the Home Builders Association of Greater Columbia held a ribbon cutting ceremony opening the Builders Care Home for Aldersgate Special Needs Ministries on Monday, December 15 at 11 am.
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State Housing Authority employees play Santa
Contributed by the S.C. State Housing Authority
      Ninety- nine children age six through 17 at Epworth Children's Home in Columbia, S.C. will have at least one thing they wished for on Christmas morning thanks to the generous efforts of the South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority employees.
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USC professors receive 2008 Governor's Award
Contributed by Dr. Don Jordan
      Dr. Donna Chen, USC Department of Chemistry is the recipient of the Young Scientist Governor's Award for Excellence in Scientific Research, 2008. Chen is recognized for her pioneering work in the field of nanoparticle chemistry.
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