Kings Row Barber Shop celebrates 55 years in Five Points
By Mike Cox | September 11, 2025
Barbershops were once famous for offering much more than a Shave and A Haircut for Two Bits. Barber and beauty shops have changed a lot since Charles Hale wrote At...
Johnny Jackson hosts Love of Trumpet
Story and photos by Phillip Jones | September 11, 2025
A few drops of rain, then some drizzle, and finally a full blown downpour didn’t stop the outdoor concert at Johnny Jackson’s home in the Lower Richland community Saturday, September...
Smart Surfaces Coalition takes on Famously Hot Columbia
By Mike Cox | September 4, 2025
Columbia’s new slogan now makes more sense—the initial Famously Hot, and the revised one, focused on summer temperatures. But the city is taking bold steps to cool neighborhoods, improve public...
City of Columbia partners with DreamKey Partners to advance housing priorities
Contributed by City of Columbia | September 11, 2025
The City of Columbia has announced a new partnership with DreamKey Partners, a nationally recognized nonprofit developer with more than...
Reading can promote empathy
Special to The Star | September 11, 2025
Avid readers may feel there’s nothing better than diving into a good book, but that book might be even more...
Rapid Shelter Columbia permanently houses 100th resident
Contributed by City of Columbia | September 11, 2025
Rapid Shelter Columbia recently celebrated a milestone—the placement of its 100th individual in permanent housing. Since its inception in November...
Memories of The Hutt
Mike Cox
mwc0423@gmail.com | September 11, 2025
I don’t recall circumstances when Mike and I first met. I know it was summer 1961, probably an encounter while...
Hold this
Julia Rogers Hook
jrhook@thecolumbiastar.com | September 11, 2025
Remember the movie “Steel Magnolias?” It was a smorgasbord of amazing actors, and they all did a fabulous job creating...
Andy goes Woke
Mike Cox
mwc0423@gmail.com | September 4, 2025
We were sitting on the veranda of a Philadelphia restaurant around noon on a fall afternoon over a decade ago....
ATTORNEYS HONORED
September 11, 2025
Henry P. Wall , E. Wade Mullins III, Wesley D. Peel, Joey R. Floyd , and Benjamin C. Bruner of...
Midlands law firm joins Smith Robinson
Contributed by Brad Warthen | September 11, 2025
Smith Robinson law firm of Columbia, Sumter, and Camden has announced that D’Alberto, Graham & Grimsley (DGG) of West Columbia...
BUSINESS BRIEFS
September 11, 2025
The City of Columbia will host the 2025 Isabel Law Breakfast, a fundraiser for the Mayor’s Campaign Against Breast Cancer,...

Original play The Seeing Place inspired by Historic USC Theatre’s haunted reputation
Contributed by Kevin Bush | September 11, 2025
The University of S.C. Department of Theatre and Dance will begin its 2025-2026 season with the ghostly new play The...
Transitions to host 14th annual Reconstructing Home
Contributed by Gavin Brown | September 11, 2025
Transitions Homeless Center will host its 14th annual Reconstructing Home event Wednesday, October 1, at the Columbia Museum of Art....

Columbia Children’s Theatre presents Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience!
Contributed by William Mitchell | February 6, 2025
Experience the whimsical fun and heartfelt lessons of Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience with Columbia Children’s Theatre...
Sylvia Johnson Lawrence
September 11, 2025
Born December 16, 1943, in Camden, New Jersey, Sylvia grew up in a close-knit family alongside her siblings. Throughout her...
William “Bill” Emmitt Jones
August 21, 2025
William “Bill” Emmitt Jones of Columbia, S.C., died at home on Monday, August 18, 2025, surrounded by family. Bill was...
WWII veteran and centenarian honored at VA Medical Center
August 14, 2025
In honor of his 100th birthday on August 8, WWII Navy Veteran Lee O. McKinnon Sr. was presented with a...
Richland Two offers Gold Card privileges for seniors
Contributed by Dr. Theresa Riley | September 11, 2025
Richland School District Two is pleased to offer Gold Card privileges to senior citizens and district retirees. The Richland Two...
Richland Two high schools ranked among nation’s best
Contributed by Dr. Theresa Riley | September 11, 2025
All five high schools in Richland School District Two have been named among the nation’s best, according to the latest...
More good news for Richland Two Magnet programs
Contributed by Dr. Theresa Riley | September 11, 2025
Richland School District Two continues to shine as a state and national leader in innovative magnet education. Magnet Schools of...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 11, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 4, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August 28, 2025
•ART Alexandra’s Art Studio, 111 Sparkleberry Crossing Road, offers adult...
Falcons poised to soar again
September 11, 2025
Find these pictures and many more here! A.C. Flora’s Amy Martin has been winning– and winning big–for a long time. She’s led the Falcons’ girls and boys tennis teams to...
Two Richland One athletics directors named Region III Athletics Directors of the Year
September 11, 2025
Two Richland One athletics directors have been named 2025 Region III Athletics Directors of the Year for their respective classifications by the South Carolina High School League (SCHSL). Columbia High...
Dutch Fork slips past Ridge View
September 11, 2025
Dutch Fork’s Jaxon Knotts ran for a 25-yard touchdown with 39 seconds left in the game to give the Silver Foxes a 28-21 win over the visiting Ridge View Blazers...

High Intensity vs Low Intensity Exercise: Which one does your dog need?
By Jenna Pellerito, Owner and Head Trainer Columbia K9 Training & Behavior https://www.thefutureisforcefree.com/ | July 24, 2025
We all know dogs need exercise, but what kind of exercise is best for which dogs? And much do they need? In this article we will dive into the differences...

Action First, Then Reinforcement: Avoiding the use of coercion in dog training
By Jenna Pellerito, Owner and Head Trainer Columbia K9 Training & Behavior www.thefutureisforcefree.com | June 26, 2025
While many people try their best to avoid coercion, accidental coercion can occur much easier than you might think. The trick to avoiding coercion when exposing puppies or dogs to...

A game I teach every puppy I meet (and why)
By Jenna Pellerito, Owner and Head Trainer Columbia K9 Training & Behavior www.thefutureisforcefree.com | May 22, 2025
As a dog trainer who specializes in both behavior modification and puppy socialization, I see many adult dogs presenting behavioral issues that could have been prevented by teaching them certain...
An Interlude in France— Place Stanislas
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | September 11, 2025
Editor’s Note: At the request of his readers and in memory of Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D, we will continue to publish his Adventure Travel stories for the time being. France...
An Interlude in France— Benedicte and Nancy
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | September 4, 2025
Editor’s Note: At the request of his readers and in memory of Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D, we will continue to publish his Adventure Travel stories for the time being. Benedicte...
An Interlude in France— Pere Lachaise Cemetery
By Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D. | August 28, 2025
Editor’s Note: At the request of his readers and in memory of Warner M. Montgomery, Ph.D, we will continue to publish his Adventure Travel stories for the time being. The...
Fruits of Fall: Beautyberries
By Arlene Marturano
South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network on Facebook | September 11, 2025
Autumn, is American beautyberries, Callicarpa americana, season of fame. The genus Callicarpa is Greek meaning beautiful fruit. When mature, the southeastern, North American, native, deciduous shrub stands 4-8’ high with...
Star Chefs
Contributed by allrecipes.com | September 11, 2025
One-Pot Spaghetti 1 pound lean ground beef 1 large onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 (14 ounce) can tomato sauce 1 (14 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes 2 cups...
Clematis cousins compete for climbing rights in your garden
By Arlene Marturano
South Carolina Garden-based Learning Network on Facebook | September 4, 2025
Sweet autumn clematis and Virgin’s Bower are two vigorous, fall blooming, long-distance twining perennial vines vying for space in your garden. Throughout the eastern United States from late August to...
Public Notices
September 11, 2025
SUMMONS (Jury Trial Requested) STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF RICHLAND IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS C/A#2025-CP-40-03465 Ronald Brigmon, Plaintiff, VS. Joseph D Jacobs and Portia S. Mack, Defendant....
Notice of Unclaimed Vehicles/Public Sales
September 11, 2025
NOTICE OF UNCLAIMED VEHICLES/PUBLIC SALE The following vehicles are subject to towing, repair and/or storage liens; are declared to be abandoned pursuant to Section 56-5- 5810, 56-5-5635 and/or 29- 15-10...