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COLUMBIA — Rockaway Athletic Club, the sign-less Rosewood watering hole, will close its doors after over four decades of serving cold, cheap beer and well-loved pimento cheeseburgers -- but it won’t be closing forever.

An employee of Rockaway’s confirmed to Free Times that staff was told the restaurant will close Jan. 21, but the group that’s purchased the building has plans for the property.

Cason Development Group has purchased the property, the group’s President Frank Cason confirmed to Free Times Wednesday. The sale of the building was closed Jan. 16. Cason said the hope is to put another restaurant in the space.

“Our strong desire is to put another restaurant back in there and hopefully it’s a business that serves that community, Rosewood and Shandon,” Cason said.

The Columbia institution’s last day in business will be Sunday, Jan. 21, a staff member confirmed when a Free Times reporter called the restaurant Jan. 16. The restaurant’s owners did not return calls from Free Times and were not at the restaurant when a reporter visited. The reason for the sale and the future of the building are not yet clear.

Until Jan. 16, the building belonged to the restaurant’s owners under Whitlark & Whitlark, Inc., according to Richland County property records. Rockaway’s owners purchased the property in 2002 for $305,000. It’s unclear how much the Cason Development Group purchased the property for, but its tax value was assessed at $605,400 in 2023.

Cason Development Group, behind the purchase of the property, is a Columbia-based commercial real estate company. Its project include chain fast food brands like Taco Bell and Burger King, as well as local restaurants like The War Mouth and Indah Coffee. Just last year, the group purchased the former Lizard’s Thicket at 402 Beltline Blvd. and opened a Moctezuma’s Mexican Restaurant.

The sale of the dive bar and restaurant joins a laundry list of recent changes to some of the city’s institutions. Late last year, Five Points’ mainstay coffee shop Drip changed hands. New Brookland Tavern, the iconic West Columbia music venue, was sold in September of last year and moved to a new home in Five Points at the beginning of this year.

Shaquille O’Neal is a Hall of Fame NBA player who’s known these days for his role as a basketball analyst and pitchman for a wide variety of companies.

But he’s also a DJ who specializes in playing EDM, or electronic dance music. And Shaq is bringing his record spinning skills to Columbia this spring as the headliner of the Hidden City Music Festival.

Billed by promoters as “Columbia’s first and only EDM music festival,” the event will be held on March 30 at the Historic Columbia Speedway at 2001 Charleston Highway in Cayce.

And O’Neal, performing under the stage name “Diesel,” tops the bill.

The four-time NBA champion who is regarded as one of the best centers in basketball history, has carried his success off the court and is one of the world’s most recognizable and popular entertainers.

“His larger-than-life personality and formidable athleticism have garnered him widespread admiration and one of the most devoted fan bases in both sports and entertainment,” event promoters said about O’Neal.

In addition to the basketball analysis he provides on TNT, O’Neal can be seen endorsing anything from Papa John’s pizza, to The General car insurance, to Gold Bond Foot Powder or Icy Hot Extra Strength Pain Relief, as well as Epson cartridge ink for printers.

During his 19-year NBA career, Shaq even starred in multiple films and released five rap albums. But how did he become a DJ specializing in percussive EDM that’s usually played in clubs and at raves?

O’Neal was introduced to electronic dance music at TomorrowWorld in 2014, “a pivotal moment that forever changed his life as he was exposed to renowned DJs like Steve Aoki and Skrillex,” according to promoters.

And fans of the genre can see the 7-foot-1 O’Neal will be a part of the cast of performers who will seamlessly blend electronic beats with the echoes of aventure, promoters said on the event’s website.

“Here, EDM Legends and local talents unite, electrifying our iconic, temple-inspired main stage, beckoning you to lose yourself and discover the secrets of the city,” promoters said.

In addition to the headlining set by Shaq, the event will feature performances by Acraze, Pickup Lines, Name Unknown, Tre Burnett and Vyce Bloom among others.

General admission tickets are available for $59.99 each, according to promoters. Among the other offers is a VIP ticket — which includes skip the line entry, premium viewing, private VIP bar and VIP bathroom — that’s available for $129.99. Parking passes are also on sale for $15 apiece, according to the website.

In addition to the music, the Hidden City Music Festival will also feature vendors that include food trucks, fireworks, and a silent disco where three DJs will play simultaneously, “all under a mesmerizing canopy of lights,” promoters said.

In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.

South Carolina has overcome an early deficit to take the lead back in this one. They have jumped out to a quick 33-25 lead against Kentucky.

If South Carolina keeps playing like this, they'll bump their record up to 16-3 in no time. On the other hand, Kentucky will have to make due with a 14-4 record unless they turn things around (and fast).

Kentucky Wildcats @ South Carolina Gamecocks

Current Records: Kentucky 14-3, South Carolina 15-3

Kentucky has enjoyed the comforts of home their last two games, but now they'll head out on the road. The Kentucky Wildcats and the South Carolina Gamecocks will face off in an SEC battle at 7:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday at Colonial Life Arena. One thing working in Kentucky's favor is that they have posted big point totals in their last eight matches.

The oddsmakers set the bar high, but Kentucky and Georgia didn't disappoint and broke past the 162.5 point over/under on Saturday. The Wildcats came out on top against the Bulldogs by a score of 105-96. Having run the score up that high, both teams probably have some extra defensive drills coming up.

Multiple players turned in solid performances to lead Kentucky to victory, but perhaps none more so than Tre Mitchell, who scored 23 points along with five rebounds. Those 23 points set a new season-high mark for him. Another player making a difference was Antonio Reeves, who scored 21 points along with five rebounds.

Arkansas typically has all the answers at home, but on Saturday South Carolina proved too difficult a challenge. They walked away with a 77-64 victory over the Razorbacks. Winning is a bit easier when you work as a team to post 11 more assists than your opponent, as South Carolina did.

South Carolina can attribute much of their success to B.J. Mack, who scored 18 points along with nine rebounds. Ta'Lon Cooper was another key contributor, scoring 11 points along with five assists.

The Wildcats are on a roll lately: they've won eight of their last nine contests, which provided a nice bump to their 14-3 record this season. As for the Gamecocks, their win bumped their record up to 15-3.

This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Kentucky have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 38.3 rebounds per game. However, it's not like South Carolina struggles in that department as they've been averaging 37 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.

Going forward, Kentucky is the favorite in this one, as the experts expect to see them win by 4.5 points. Those interested in the spread don't face an easy decision since they are 11-6 and South Carolina is 4-1.

Kentucky is a 4.5-point favorite against South Carolina, according to the latest college basketball odds.

The oddsmakers had a good feel for the line for this one, as the game opened with the Wildcats as a 4-point favorite.

The over/under is set at 155 points.

See college basketball picks for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. Get picks now.

Kentucky has won 5 out of their last 8 games against South Carolina.

A pair of red-hot SEC foes battle on Tuesday when the sixth-ranked Kentucky Wildcats meet the South Carolina Gamecocks at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, S.C. The Wildcats (14-3, 4-1 SEC), who have won two in a row, have won 12 of their last 14 games since losing to Kansas in November. The Gamecocks (15-3, 3-2), who have lost two of their last four games, have won eight of 10. Kentucky holds a 54-14 edge in the all-time series.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. ET. The Wildcats are 6-point favorites in the latest Kentucky vs. South Carolina odds from SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 155. Before making any South Carolina vs. South Carolina picks, check out the college basketball predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model.

The model simulates every Division I college basketball game 10,000 times. It enters Week 12 of the 2023-24 season on a 114-73 roll on all top-rated college basketball picks dating back to last season, returning more than $2,000 for $100 players. It is also off to a sizzling 19-5 start on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Kentucky vs. South Carolina. You can head to SportsLine to see the picks. Here are the latest betting trends and lines for South Carolina vs. Kentucky:

Why Kentucky can cover

Senior guard Antonio Reeves, the 2023 SEC Sixth Man of the Year, is averaging 19.5 points per game this season. He scored 30 points in a 95-76 win over Louisville on Dec. 21. He has reached double-digit scoring in 16 games this season, including 20-plus nine times. He is on the Wooden Award Midseason Watch List and is also averaging 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 30.7 minutes of action.

Senior forward Tre Mitchell, who is at his fourth school in four seasons, is among the Wildcats' top scorers. In 17 starts, he is averaging 13.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.2 blocks in 34.1 minutes. He is coming off a 23-point effort in the win over Georgia on Saturday. He has recorded three double-doubles, including a 20-point and 14-rebound effort in a 90-77 win over Missouri on Jan. 9. See who to back at SportsLine.

Why South Carolina can cover

Junior guard Meechie Johnson Jr. has reached 20 or more points six times this season, including 24 in the SEC opener against Mississippi State on Jan. 6. The Gamecocks are 8-2 over the past two seasons when Johnson reaches 20 points or more. He scored a career-high 29 points on 9 of 15 shooting in the ACC/SEC Challenge win over Notre Dame on Nov. 28. For the year, he is averaging 16.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 28.8 minutes of play.

Senior forward B.J. Mack, who is in his first season at South Carolina after spending the past three years at Wofford, has reached double-figure scoring in each of the last three games. He scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds with three assists in the win at Arkansas. For the year, he is averaging 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 25.2 minutes of action. See who to back at SportsLine.

How to make South Carolina vs. Kentucky picks

The model has simulated this matchup 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under the total, and it also says one side of the spread hits in 60% of simulations. You can only see the picks at SportsLine.

So who wins Kentucky vs. South Carolina, and which side of the spread hits 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 19-5 roll on its top-ranked college basketball picks, and find out.

A wind advisory has been issued for the Columbia area, as powerful storms are forecast to hit the Midlands region of South Carolina.

The wind advisory goes into effect at 6 a.m. Tuesday and will run through 9 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Strong winds are predicted, with powerful gusts that could reach 45 mph, the National Weather Service said in a Monday morning briefing.

Additionally severe thunderstorms and tornadoes are potential threats across the Midlands on Tuesday, according to the briefing.

Rain is expected to move into the Columbia area early Tuesday morning, and then winds are expected to increase, the National Weather Service said. The gusts are forecast to increase in strength by midday and remain a threat into the evening, according to the briefing.

Even after the line of showers and storms move through the area, winds will remain strong and gusty through Tuesday night and into Wednesday, when they could reach 30 mph, the National Weather Service said.

Powerful winds and tornadoes could cause considerable damage to trees and branches, in addition to mobile homes, roofs and outbuildings. Vehicles would also be under siege in the case of a tornado.

Damage to trees and branches creates the possibility of downed power lines and outages.

“Now is the time to secure outdoor items and prepare for the possibility of power outages,” the National Weather Service said on social media.

Meteorologists also urged drivers to use caution on Tuesday because winds this strong can make driving difficult.

“If you must drive during the worst of the weather, adjust your speed and follow distance accordingly,” the South Carolina Department of Public Safety said on social media.

There is a 100% chance of precipitation in the Columbia area, and up to 2 inches of rain is possible Tuesday, the forecast shows. Localized amounts in other areas of the Midlands could be higher.

There is a low potential for flash flooding, but river flooding is possible in the days following the storms and into next week, according to the briefing.

The warmest temperatures of the week are expected to accompany the storms, with a high of 68 degrees possible in Columbia on Tuesday. Things will cool off the days following the storms before warming again around the weekend when more rain is forecast for the Midlands.

In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.

This story was originally published January 8, 2024, 9:43 AM.