Home Care In Lexington, SC

LEXINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - The Lexington County Council passed a new fireworks ordinance this fall which says that no fireworks can be set off after 12:30 a.m. on Jan 1.

Anyone who violates this ordinance could be fined as much as $150.

”I’m sure it will have maybe some minimum effect on people who are planning on having late parties at night but as far as a large effect on our business, I’ll say it’ll be minimal,” said Andrew McKay, manager of Rodney’s Rockets in Lexington County.

Across the Midlands, there are similar fireworks ordinances that are put in place for those ringing in the new year.

The City of Columbia’s Ordinance states no fireworks can be set after 1 a.m. and anyone violating the ordinance could be fined as much as $250 dollars for a second offense.

In Richland County, Fireworks can be set off until 1 a.m. Violators face a $500 fine for a first offense and as much as $1,000 for a third offense.

”The council had reviewed the policy, which there was no policy that really controls the use of fireworks,” said Lexington County Councilman Todd Cullum. “We decided that it would be best that the fireworks ordinance would be a part of our current standing noise ordinance, so we just amended the noise ordinance in order for us to hopefully be able to have some semblance of control [over] the use of fireworks.”

The county urges residents to be considerate to neighbors and to be mindful of celebrating New Year’s Day.

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According to residents, the land used to be full of trees. Now it's a construction site, and soon, a new housing and shopping development.

LEXINGTON, S.C. — An area near Red Bank in Lexington is starting to look very different as developers turn a 50-acre plot of land into shopping and residential property.

Austin Dunn is a physical therapist and a client director at Drayer Physical Therapy along Platt Springs Road in Lexington. He's been at the location for two years and recalls seeing a large plot of trees across the street, but he said that the landscape is changing quickly.

"We've seen the trees swaying like the Lorax, falling down. But as I've been coming to work the last few weeks, I've seen more and more clearance and now it's basically a dirt lot."

That's a similar story for Brittany Harris; she lives by the property and has seen it change shape.

"I just noticed they were clearing the area out. A lot of different work trucks and different people out there sometimes during the day. I just kinda figure that they were probably going to put another housing development over there or something," she said.

It's all part of a 50-acre development, according to the NAI Columbia commercial real estate firm.

A press release from the company said the group will be developing the area into a mixed-use area named 'Platt Springs Crossing.' The firm said it will be "bringing multiple national and regional users, along with a residential component, to a growing Lexington market."

The idea of a new place to shop or live makes Harris excited about the possibilities.

"I would definitely like to have another sit-down eatery spot. Just, you know, more family oriented where me and my family can come sometimes on the weekend and just dine in."

Dunn, a White Knoll high school graduate, claims he's seen the area take shape over decades. He's excited an increase in population could mean more business-

"Being a physical therapist, that's my main thing, is trying to help people get better. If there's any injuries or anything else going on...I can get a better opportunity to help people, then that's the main goal."

We reached out to NAI Columbia, who said they are not yet releasing information about the possible businesses or plans for the development.

Don’t worry, Lexington. You’re also going to get a chance to get your hands on some steamed bagel sandwiches.

Sully’s Steamers, the sandwich franchise that has long been popular in the Upstate and is known for its wide variety of sandwiches served on steamed bagels, recently opened a shop at 2835 Devine St. in Columbia. Now, franchisee Michael Stuckey confirms that Sully’s has set its sights on its next Midlands location, which will be in neighboring Lexington.

Stuckey said the Lexington spot will be at 5580 Sunset Blvd., in the Kitty’s Corner shopping center. The Sully’s restaurant will be going into the space that was formerly a Kitty’s Hallmark store. That’s right next door to Menchie’s frozen yogurt shop.

“We are hoping to be open there in mid-November, if everything works out well,” Stuckey told The State. “If not, it will be very early December.”

Sully’s Steamers has long had a location on East Washington Street in bustling downtown Greenville, and it also has Upstate locations in Clemson, Simpsonville, Mauldin and Spartanburg, as well as a spot in Brevard, N.C.

Aside from the recently opened Columbia shop and the coming Lexington spot, Stuckey also has plans to open Sully’s restaurants in several other Midlands areas, including West Columbia, Irmo and Forest Acres, though exact locations for those units have not yet been finalized.

The Lexington County Chronicle first reported the location of Sully’s Steamers in Lexington.

The response to the Devine Street Sully’s, which opened June 26, has been tremendous, Stuckey said.

“There has been a perfect mix of customers (visiting the Columbia shop) who have been to the Sully’s in Greenville, who already were fans of Sully’s, and people from the local community,” Stuckey said. “I grew up maybe 10 blocks away, right off of Rosewood, and Devine has always been a place, for me, that needed a more family-friendly spot, with some outdoor space.”

The Sully’s in Lexington will be along a very busy thoroughfare. About 35,000 cars per day pass down that stretch of Sunset Boulevard, per state Department of Transportation data. There are a host of shops, restaurants and other businesses in the area, including a Walmart, a Chick-fil-A, Ganbei Japanese restaurant and many others.

“We looked for a while in Lexington, and we were kind of going between Main Street and (Sunset Boulevard),” Stuckey said. “Everyone who lived in Lexington that I knew said (Sunset) was where we should go. Traffic is heavy, yes, but it flows.”

Sully’s menu has a plethora of bagel steamers, including the Nachos Maximus, which has turkey, cheddar, lettuce, honey mustard, parm-peppercorn and Doritos (the chips are on the sandwich), and the Hulk, which features turkey, pepperoni, salami, onions, provolone, cheddar and Italian dressing. The also have a number of breakfast steamers.

LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) - Until Thursday, the FBI’s Columbia agents were spread across the city. With the new Columbia field office now open, everyone is under one roof.

“This new facility employs modern technology and information sharing capabilities, which allows us to perform and get ahead of the threat and keep America safe,” said Assistant Special Agent in Charge Philip Tejera

The 87,000 square foot facility provides a large office space for investigators to conduct their work and solve crimes. It aims to serve as a hub where local, state, and federal agencies can share information and resources.

FBI Director Chris Wray was in attendance Thursday morning to help Columbia’s Special Agent in Charge, Steven Jensen, cut the ribbon on the new facility.

“As we begin our new chapter, let us not forget the spirit of collaboration this building represents,” Jensen said. He added, “It’s a hub where local, state, and federal agencies can converge and share intelligence, expertise, and resources to protect South Carolinians.”

Assistant Special Agent in Charge Philip Tejera says the new space makes it easier for him to meet with his supervisors and investigators. He feels it not only makes it easier to share resources, but also easier to collaborate with other agents and organizations.

“It gives me the opportunity to get in front of not only my supervisors but my investigators on a day-to-day basis to interact with them, understand what they need, and how I can support them.” Tejera said, adding “It’s been exceptional to provide that type of service for the employees here (in) one location.

FBI Columbia plans to use the new office space here to continue expanding its network in hopes of working with more local organizations.Notice a spelling or grammar error in this article? Click or tap here to report it. Please include the article’s headline.

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When Lexington voters go to the polls to elect their mayor this fall, long-time incumbent Steve MacDougall won’t be on the ballot.

MacDougall told The State on Friday that he won’t be running for another term as the town’s mayor in November, stepping aside after 10 years in Lexington’s top job.

Instead, MacDougall said he is considering running for a seat in the S.C. Senate in 2024, representing a newly drawn district that will include much of the town of Lexington.

“There may be an opportunity in my short future that may have me stepping away,” MacDougall said. “Instead of running again and then have the town go through a special election in less than a year, the right thing to do, not to run for re-election.”

MacDougall has served as Lexington’s mayor since 2013, after he was first elected to the town council in 2011.

Currently the only candidate who has filed to replace MacDougall is Hazel Livingston, a town council member who currently serves as Lexington’s mayor pro tempore. Filing closes at noon on Wednesday. The nonpartisan election is Nov. 7.

MacDougall’s time as mayor has coincided with a period of growth in the town about 12 miles west of Columbia. He oversaw the revitalization of Lexington’s downtown, now bustling with businesses and public amenities like the Icehouse Amphitheater. He also led the response to historic flooding in 2015 that resulted in dam failures at the Old Mill Pond and the town’s Gibson Pond Park.

Most recently, MacDougall attempted to lead the annexation of a planned Smallwood Cover development north of town, which would have added hundreds of homes on the shores of Lake Murray north of town along with a hotel, retail space and a town-owned conference center. The developers ultimately withdrew their request to be annexed into the town after public backlash around the plan.

MacDougall said he expects to make a decision about a potential Senate run early next year, but said he’s always wanted to serve in the chamber since he worked as head of security in the sergeant-at-arms’ office in the 1980s and ‘90s.

The newly drawn Senate district will ensure “We keep the town as the priority, and make sure the future is oh so bright for the hometown I love so much,” MacDougall said. “I grew up when there were 700 people in this town, and I rode my bicycle in a zig-zag down 378, and now there are 40,000 cars a day on that road.

“These are really exciting times for the town,” he said. “We’ve put it back on the path to prosperity and growth, and I’m really honored be there during that time.”

If he leaves the mayor’s office and ultimately does not end up serving as the area’s senator, MacDougall, a restauranteur, says he’ll be alright with that outcome too.

“I’ll go back to being a hardworking young man with one job instead of three,” MacDougall said.

This story was originally published August 25, 2023, 3:22 PM.