AROUND TOWN LINDA: 467-0334 ChuCk: 348-0243

You may have noticed changes in traffic on US 378.

Computerized traffic signals between Lott Court and Hummingbird Drive will help improve emergency response for ambulances carrying patients to Lexington Medical Center.

Lexington Medical Center paid for the $2 million project.

It includes traffic detection cameras, travel time monitoring devices and pre-emption control devices, which monitor real-time traffic flow and adjust traffic signal timing.

12 ambulances have been outfitted with traffic-signal emitters. Lexington County EMS plans to install them in 4 more ambulances. The cost per ambulance is about $4,200.

The county plans eventually to outfit each of its 28 ambulances with the emitters.

Lexington County Fire Service has 7 vehicles with traffic-signal emitters. The City of West Columbia Fire Department is also equipping its fleet.

Holiday craft sale

Hollow Creek Community Center will host a holiday craft and vendor sale in support of its Blessing Box efforts.

Blessing Box was created by 16-year-old Audrey Binkley in memory of her Papa Daddy to help anyone in need.

Bring a non-perishable food item and shop local vendors for items on your Christmas list Nov. 3 from noon – 5 pm at 2701 Priceville Rd., Gilbert.

Veteran pavilion dedication

The 2019 class of Leadership Lexington County raised over $75,000 to build a pavilion for the veterans of Central Midlands Transitional Retreat.

CMTR is a 501(c)(3) housing facility designed specifically for United States Veterans in partnership with the Department of Veterans Administration. Their programs include transitional housing, education, training, financial and employment counseling.

Leadership Lexington will host its pavilion dedication Saturday, Nov. 9 from 3-5 pm at 201 Duffie Drive, Lexington.

New Southeastern Freight leadership

Southeastern Freight Lines, the leading provider of regional less-than-truckload transportation services, today announced Michelle Tate has been appointed as director of human resources.

Tate previously worked as a director of human resources within Duke Energy’s Nuclear Division.

She comes to Southeastern with more than 20 years of human resources experience and an MBA from Texas A&M University.

Boat owners will soon pay yearly registration, taxes

Watercraft owners used to a 3-year registration cycle will soon switch to an annual cycle.

Recent legislation changes the current Department of Natural Resources registration cycle from 3 years to 1 and changes the timing of when property taxes for watercraft will be issued.

Those taxes will be issued according to the month of your DNR registration, similar to the way you receive your vehicle taxes.

The change will not affect how much is owed, just when you must pay.

The updated legislation hopes to avoid the wrong person paying taxes when boats are sold to new owners.

Those with 2020 registration expiration dates will not receive a bill this October. Those will go out according to your expiration month next year.

Those with 2021 or 2022 registrations will receive a bill this month.

For more information, visit http://myscmap.sc.gov/boating/Titling_and_Registration/index.html and https://lex-co.sc.gov/or call the county auditor’s office at 803-785-8181.

Veteran appreciation

R.H. Fulmer Middle School will host a Veterans Day Recognition Program Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 9:30 am.

Doughnuts and coffee will be served, and students will present a special program just for veterans.

All veterans in the area and their families are invited to attend.

Call the school office at (803) 822-5660 for more information.

R.H. Middle is located at 1614 Walterboro Street in West Columbia, beside Airport High School. The event will be held in the gym located at the rear of the school.

Toys for Tots

The Marine Toys for Tots campaigns are in full swing across the country.

The foundation collects new, unwrapped toys and distributes them to less fortunate children at Christmas.

The nonprofit public charity was founded at the behest of the Marine Corps in 1991, and is still run exclusively by veteran Marines.

Toy requests are open for families until Dec. 1 and for organizations Nov. 1 through Dec.

1. All requests must be submitted through https://columbia-sc.toysfortots.org/ .

You can donate, volunteer or sign up to be a toy collection point or host your own toy collection event online.

Visit www.facebook.com/columbiasctoysfortots for the most up to date information.

No Saturday newspaper

The State newspaper will no longer publish a printed Saturday edition starting Jan. 25.

Publisher Rodney Mahone said they will expand print editions on Fridays and Sundays.

“Many of the features that you enjoy on Saturday such as comics, puzzles, TV listings and local sports coverage will now appear in expanded editions in print on Friday and Sunday.

“On Saturdays, we will continue to publish breaking local news to our website and social media platforms.”

Post 7 Veterans Dinner

Correction from 10-24-19: American Legion Post 7 will host a Veterans Dinner Nov. 9 at 211 American Legion Drive in Lexington.

The catered dinner is free for veterans and $7 for guests.

Call Linda at 803-529-6439 for reservations.

This event is not connected with the Lexington VFW as previously reported.