With spring only a couple of months away, the Olympia community has begun preparing for the Olympia Festival. Betty Hilliard announced at the We are Olympia community meeting on January 18 that the festival will be held April 24 from 10 am–5 pm. Currently, 40 vendors have committed. Tours of the area will be available. According to Vulcan representative Bob Johnson, the tour will come down River Road so that the participants will get a better view of the city.

Attending was Lieutenant Heidi Scott who announced she will be conducting a three hour defense class for women sponsored by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department January 26. Scott also said The Citizen’s Academy, a 12 week course that meets each Tuesday from 7–9 pm, will also begin January 26. Additional information for both events can be found at www.rcsd.net.