Columbia Star

1963        Celebrating 60 Years      2023

City Snippets


USC under accreditation scrutiny

Gov. Henry McMaster’s involvement in the UofSC’s presidential search constituted “undue influence,” according to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the school’s accrediting body. As a result, UofSC will have to submit a “monitoring report” to SACS by September 8 and will be visited by a special committee from SACS.

Prisma eliminates 327 positions

Prisma Health is continuing its cost-cutting efforts by eliminating 327 positions from a workforce of 32,000.

Rucker joining Hall of Fame

Darius Rucker will be inducted into the S.C. Hall of Fame on February 7, at the S.C. Hall of Fame location in Myrtle Beach.

Bar’s liquor license challenged

USC and Columbia police have joined Five Points neighbors and state Sen. Dick Harpootlian in opposing a liquor license renewal of legendary Five Points dive bar Group Therapy, now owned by Gamecock football legend Steve Taneyhill. The challenge does not affect beer and wine sales.

Census jobs available

To get an accurate count of the population in Columbia, the Census Bureau needs to fill 3,900 positions. The jobs pay $14 to $15.50 an hour. For more information about Census jobs and to apply online, visit 2020census.gov/en/jobs/job-details.html?

UofSC nursing program ranks No. 1

UofSC ranks No. 1 in the nation among public universities for its online graduate nursing program, according to U. S. News and World Report. The College of Nursing also ranks No. 1 among public institutions for its online graduate program for veterans.

Babcock building has new owner

Virginia based historic renovation specialist Clachan Properties has taken ownership of the historic Babcock Building in Columbia’s BullStreet District. Clachan plans to turn the 254,022 square foot building into a 208-unit apartment building.

Cayce trampoline park opening

The Summit Adventure Park is opening a trampoline park in the former Reids grocery store location in the Cayce Commons, 2245 Charleston Hwy.

Horton honored by chamber

Former West Columbia Mayor Bobby Horton received the Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber of Commerce at its 2020 Awards Dinner.

Marriott building near hospital

Marriott International has broken ground for its 111- room TownPlace Suites at 2915 Sunset Boulevard in West Columbia (across from Lexington Medical Center).

COMET launches rural route

The COMET is launching a pilot rural route connecting the West Columbia SuperStop at Williams Drive at Charleston Highway and Batesburg-Leesville via Lexington. The service will operate three trips to West Columbia and two trips to Batesburg-Leesville every Thursday.

DHEC offering free radon kits

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control offers free radon test kits, so you can learn if your home has unsafe levels of the carcinogenic gas. To register for a kit, visit apps.dhec.sc.gov/environment/radon.

Governor promoting tuition freeze

S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster’s 2020-2021 budget would give state colleges a combined $26.1 million in new funding in exchange for a tuition freeze.

Mousetrap closes doors

The Mousetrap at 2711 Middleburg Drive—which only just reopened a little over a year ago—has closed.

Locker maker in new quarters

Columbia Systems International of South Carolina, a locker and partition manufacturer, is moving from 825 Garland Street to expanded quarters at 9031 Farrow Road.

Truck center construction underway

Construction is underway on a new 40,000-square-foot Pete Store on 11 acres off I-26 at Exit 119 in West Columbia. The Peterbuilt truck sales and service dealership will feature 19 air-conditioned service bays and increase parts warehouse space by 300 percent.

Craft and Draft opens new shop

Devine Street tap room and bottle shop Craft and Draft is now open for business at its second location at 7583 St. Andrews Road in the Irmo Village Shopping Center.

Associations backing trafficking effort

The S.C. Beer Wholesalers Association, the S.C. Restaurant and Lodging Association, the S.C. Trucking Association, and the S.C. Hospital Association have joined the S.C. attorney general’s campaign against human trafficking.

SRI purchases Cutter’s Insulation

SRI Columbia, a provider of fiberglass insulation, has acquired Cutter’s Insulation, a leading provider of fiberglass insulation in Columbia.

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