Those living with unemployment due to covid-19 may soon get more federal relief.

Gov. Henry McMaster and the SC Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) have applied for FEMA’s Lost Wages Assistance program.

The state is now waiting for federal approval of the grant application.

If the state’s application is approved, the South Carolina LWA would provide an additional $300 in benefits on top of a claimant’s weekly benefit amount.

For each week a claimant is eligible for at least $100 in state or federal unemployment benefits, the LWA will add $300.

In South Carolina, the average weekly benefit is approximately $260.

Okra Strut canceled

The 2020 Okra Strut Festival has been canceled.

The festival, which was scheduled to take place on Sept. 25-26, would have been the 47th Okra Strut Festival.

Plans are now underway to hold the Okra Strut Festival in 2021, WIS News 10 reported.

Art exhibit to open on State St.

Painter Candace Thibeault will open her art exhibit Sept. 4.

The exhibit opens as part of First Friday on State Street from 6-9 pm at Rob Shaw Gallery and Framing at 324 State Street.

The show will hang through Sept. 28.

Attendees will be required to wear face masks.

New bank leadership

Narin Seera is the new chief mortgage banking officer at First Community Bank.

Seera will be responsible for leading First Community’s mortgage line of business including sales, underwriting, operations and secondary marketing. Seera is Certified Mortgage Banker with 28 years of experience in the mortgage industry.

Arts grant awarded

Nursery Road Elementary School-Arts Magnet has received a $10,000 Arts in Basic Curriculum grant from the SC Arts Commission.

It is the 4th consecutive year the school has received the grant.

The ABC grant provides 3 years of support to schools and school districts committed to implementing standards-based arts curricula and to making the arts an integral part of the basic curriculum and daily classroom instruction.

Calling local artists

Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) is offering local artists an opportunity to exhibit their work.

The CAE rotating exhibition begins in October and runs through January.

to email Lynne Douglas at l.douglas@flycae.com by Sept. 4 with:

• Name, address, phone, email, website (if applicable)

• Artist bio

• Artist statement

• At least 5 images representing the type of artwork anticipated to be shown

Artists must live in Lexington, Calhoun, Fairfield, Kershaw, Orangeburg, Richland, Saluda, Sumter, Lee, Clarendon, Newberry or Aiken counties.

Artists selected will be notified by Sept. 11.

Chapin elementary school named

The new Lexington-Richland School District 5 elementary school in Chapin will be named Piney Woods Elementary School.

The Board of Trustees approved the name of the district’s 13th elementary school during its regularly scheduled meeting August 24.

The school’s principal, Cassy Paschal, presented the name to the board for their approval on behalf of superintendent Dr. Christina Melton. Paschal led a committee of 7 individuals who were tasked to come up with a name.

Food Lion groceries grant

Food Lion has donated $1,500 to help feed Lexington County students in need.

The Food Lion Feeds Charitable Foundation grant will allow the Lexington School District 1 Education Foundation to purchase groceries for families who need assistance.

The grant will help the district provide for the growing list of families affected by the corona virus.

Theaters reopening

Lexington movie buffs can now return to their favorite pastime.

Regal Northlake Village, formerly Pastime Pavilion, reopened Friday.

Regal Columbiana Grande in Harbison reopened last week.

Movie theaters across the nation announced closures in March amid the early stages of the covid-19 pandemic.

Movie theater employees will undergo daily health screenings and will be required to wash hands every 30 to 60 minutes, ColaDaily reported.

Guests must wear face masks at all times except while eating and drinking.