2 high school student councils are teaming up to make a difference.

Airport High School and Brookland-Cayce High School are holding shoe drives to support the Shoe Ministry at State Street Baptist Church in Cayce.

The goal is to collect 2,500 gently worn or new shoes by June 1.

Brookland-Cayce Student Council adviser Ryan Van Omen said students are eager to pool their strengths as individual councils to have a bigger impact in the community.

Shoe donations are being accepted at both high schools through June 1. Community members are encouraged to drop off donations.

Eco-friendly buses

Lexington 1 will be able to replace 7 diesel school buses with a grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency.

The EPA award of $480,000 to the SC Department of Education will upgrade diesel school buses across the state.

24 school buses from 10 districts will be replaced.

The funds are in the form of rebates through the EPA’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act funding.

The new buses will reduce pollutants that are linked to asthma and lung damage, better protecting health and air quality in communities across the country.

Community blood drive

Did you know:

Every 2 seconds someone in the US needs blood?

One unit of blood can save up to 3 lives?

The Town of Springdale has partnered with The Blood Connection to host a community blood drive May 13.

The “Bloodmobile Bus” will be parked in the old Jewelry Warehouse parking lot from 1:30-5:30 pm.

Donors will receive a $20 VISA Gift Card for donating.

A light snack will be provided before your donation.

Appointments are not required but are greatly encouraged.

To schedule your appointment, visit https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/170933 .

Low-cost grocer opens

A new Dollar General is open at 454 Cedarcrest Drive in Lexington.

Normal hours of operation may be found on the Dollar General app.

DG offers household essentials including food, cleaning supplies, paper products, over-the-counter medicines, hygiene products, baby items and more.

The store is expected to employ 6-10 people.

Welcome to The Grove

Josephy W. Casey is the new assistant principal at Oak Grove Elementary School.

The Lexington 1 board approved the hiring, effective July 1, 2021.

Casey comes to District 1 from Dent Middle School in Richland School District 2, where he’s served as assistant principal for curriculum and instruction for the past 5 years.

Before joining Dent Middle School, he served at Pelion Middle School from 2010– 2016 as lead interventionist for the Response to Intervention program, teacher and coach.

Thank you for your service

Gilbert Middle School Principal Benji Ricard plans to retire this year.

Lexington County School District 1 Superintendent Dr. Greg Little announced Ricard’s retirement will be effective July 1, 2021.

“Benji Ricard has given 15 years to this district and, more importantly, to Gilbert Middle School. We are thankful for his selfless service to its students and staff, and his commitment to the Gilbert community,” Dr. Little said.

Ricard, who has 32 years of public education experience, joined Lexington District 1 in 2006, after serving as assistant principal at E. L. Wright Middle School in Richland 2.

Non-stop flights to Miami

American Airlines non-stop flights from Columbia Metropolitan Airport to Miami International are set to begin June 5.

The airport announced Wednesday the airline will use a larger aircraft with more seats and 1st class.

New Farm Bureau agent

A familiar face has been hired at Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company.

White Knoll grad Brandon Serio will serve as an agent in the Lexington office at 121 Park Rd.