Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How you can support Officer DeLong’s family this week

Also check out Main Street Mimosa Festival™ – Columbia's Ultimate Day Party Experience on the Columbia Patch calendar

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Tuesday September 1st Patch AM
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Hello Columbia! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☀️

Before we get to what's happening, a big thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Columbia PatchAM possible. Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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In today's newsletter:

  • How you can support Officer DeLong's family this week
  • How Lake Murray's 100th birthday could boost Columbia tourism
  • Could your Columbia family now qualify for free full-day 4K?

Also on today's calendar: Brown Horse @ The Senate and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: What is the 1 way to guarantee winning a small fortune at the casino? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high of 96 and low of 73 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
  • Wednesday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 96, low: 74.
  • Thursday: Mostly sunny, with a high of 95 and low of 73 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Community rallies behind family of fallen Columbia Officer Chris DeLong (wistv.com) — Columbia residents are uniting to support the family of Officer Chris DeLong, killed in a weekend shooting that also wounded his partner during a confrontation at a local park. A memorial has grown outside Columbia Police headquarters, and nonprofit Serve & Connect is coordinating official donations, while public visitation and a Celebration of Life in Columbia and Irmo invite the entire Midlands community to pay respects.
   

2. Capital City/Lake Murray Country celebrates tourism growth, looks ahead to Lake Murray centennial (thecaycewestcolumbianews.com) — Tourism leaders meeting in Columbia highlighted strong visitor growth and laid out big plans to use Lake Murray's 100th anniversary in 2027 to draw even more people to the Capital City/Lake Murray region. New marketing, special centennial events, and even a commemorative beer are in the works to spotlight Columbia attractions like Finlay Park, the BullStreet District, and nearby Lake Murray.
   

3. Thousands of new families are eligible to apply for full-day 4K under the state budget. See if your child qualifies (wltx.com) — Families in Columbia and across South Carolina may now qualify for free, full-day 4K if they earn up to 300% of the federal poverty level, opening the door for about 14,000 more households. Local providers in Columbia say the expansion will ease childcare costs, help fill remaining First Steps 4K slots, and better prepare young children for kindergarten readiness.
   

4. SCDPH: Overdose deaths down in SC according to most recent data (abccolumbia.com) — State health officials in Columbia say South Carolina's overdose deaths dropped more than 30% in 2024, though fentanyl remains the leading cause. To keep that trend going, DPH is offering free overdose safety kits with naloxone and drug test strips at health departments statewide, with materials in English and Spanish.
   

📸 Around Columbia

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Columbia

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Other local events

📣 Columbia Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

    Tuesday September 1
  • ELC Music Class →
    6408 Bridgewood Rd, Columbia
    6:00 pm
  • Big D and the Kids Table →
    New Brookland Tavern, 632 Harden St, Columbia
    7:00 pm
    • Wednesday September 2
  • Volleybal Home Vs Blythewood
    E. L. Wright Middle Columbia, SC 29223
    4:30 pm
  • Away Volleyball Game - Dent vs Longleaf
    Dent Middle Columbia, SC 29206
    5:30 pm
    • Wednesday September 9
  • Footbal/Volleyball Home Vs Kelly Mill
    E. L. Wright Middle Columbia, SC 29223
    5:00 pm
    • Thursday September 10
  • Admiral Radio →
    Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St, Columbia
    5:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Cat found.
    Female, around 6mo-1year. No tail. Hardwicke Rd. in Columbia, SC. Just took her to the vet. Very clean, got her the rabies shot and treatment for… (Nextdoor Gardendale)
  • UPDATE FOUND!!!!
    Thank you to my kind neighbor for rescuing her!! MISSING CAT!! (Heritage Village/Harbison) Booger "Boogie" Female Spayed, 4 years old Missing since… (Nextdoor Hamptons at Harbison)
  • Teph Seal Auto Appearance posted a job opening for Detailer (flat rate) 450565 (Columbia/St Andrews, SC) in Columbia. Apply here.
  • Ryder System posted a job opening for Payroll Coordinator II - REMOTE in Columbia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia here.

Ok Columbia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: By starting with a large fortune. (Thank you Kourtney Z. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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