Silver Airways Thursday began flights from Columbia Metropolitan Airport to 3 locations in Florida.

According to the company flights will run:

Nonstop service twice weekly to Orlando International Airport.

Nonstop service twice weekly to Fort Lauderdale. Exclusive nonstop service between the Tampa Bay area and Columbia twice a week.

Continuing same-plane service to Key West.

Dist. 5 elects operations director

Lexington-Richland School District 5 has named Todd Bedenbaugh the new Executive Director of Operations for the district.

Bedenbaugh currently serves as the director of student nutrition. In this new role, Bedenbaugh will continue to perform those duties as well as supervising the district’s transportation, facilities and technology departments.

He was approved for the new post during a school board meeting Dec. 14.

Lexington animator wins top prize

A Lexington native has won top prize from the Academy of Cinematic Arts.

Will Lance won Best in Show in the 2020 Golden Lion Award High School Film Festival for his animated short film, “Across the Cosmos.”

Lance is a 2019 graduate of the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities and is currently pursuing a career in animation.

Pine Ridge principal honored

Pine Ridge Middle School Principal Dr. David Basile has been named the 2021 South Carolina Middle Level Principal of the Year.

Basile has been in education for 36 years, serving the past 5 as principal at Pine Ridge.

He started his career as a teacher at a California high school, and has since served in a number of principal and administrative roles in districts near and far, promoting a culture that makes all students feel welcome and included.

Italian in the Vista

A new Italian restaurant has opened at 807 Gervais St., Ste. 100 in Columbia’s the Vista.

Di Vino Rosso is open Monday-Saturday from 4-10 pm. Valet is available.

Jim Hudson auto donation

Jim Hudson Automotive Group is doing its part to help people affected by disasters.

The business donated an energy-efficient emergency response vehicle to the American Red Cross.

The new emergency response vehicle will be fuel efficient, easier to drive with lower maintenance costs and provide ample storage room for food water and supplies.

Learning center receives award

Lexington School District 3’s Lifelong Learning Center has received the “Stepping Up To The Plate” Award.

The SC Department of Education’s Office of Adult Education presented the award Nov. 20. recognizing the Lifelong Learning Center’s Certified Nursing Assistant team members.

Specifically, staff members Patricia Tiffner, Heather Jackson and Geena Beerman were recognized for the efforts they made last Spring to ensure 3 classes of CNA students were able to complete the final stages of their coursework after the onset of the covid-19 pandemic.

For more information about Lexington County School District Three’s Lifelong Learning Center, visit www.lex3.org .

Cayce sanitation workers honored

3 Cayce sanitation workers received an honor from the city after going above and beyond the call of duty.

On October 27, 2020 a Cayce resident fell near her home. 3 members of the Cayce sanitation team saw her and quickly came over to her aide.

They walked her home and stayed with her until medical assistance arrived.

The city awarded Johnny Adkin, James Jeffcoat, and James Wise the Whole Sole Award.

The resident sought out the city to make sure the men were recognized by saying she was “overwhelmed by their kindness.”