A local student was one of 100 young women selected to attend the 75th American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation.

Anna-Claire Osment, a senior at Lexington High School, attended the session July 23-30 in Washington, D.C.

“As part of the ALA program, two outstanding high school seniors are selected to represent South Carolina as ‘senators” at ALA Girls Nation,’” according to a Lexington County School District 1 Newsletter.

“ALA Girls Nation is a 7-day leadership conference that provides aspiring young women leaders with practical insight into how the federal government operates, instills a sense of pride in our country and promotes youth civic engagement. During ALA Girls Nation, the students participate in a mock legislature. They ... submit bills and resolutions, participate in senate sessions, and elect officials such as president and vice president.”

SC Department of Agriculture to Host Pesticide Disposal Event

Lexington County is a site for one of six upcoming state Department of Agriculture events to dispose of waste pesticides.

The event, Sept. 27 at ECOFLO (1741 Calks Ferry Rd. in Lexington) from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., joins others in the counties of Williamsburg, Dillon, Calhoun, Charleston and York during August and September.

“The pesticide and chemical program is open to all private, commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators in the state, as well as homeowners. SCDA staff will be on site to monitor pesticide collection and disposal, and will have final authority on acceptance of products,” according to a news release, which lists these additional details:

• Quantities will be limited to 2,500 pounds of solid and 300 gallons of liquid at no charge.

• Acceptable products include herbicides, insecticides, nematicides, fungicides and similar products used in agriculture production or around the home.

• Prohibited items include empty pesticide containers, rinsate, infectious, biological or radioactive materials, explosives, appliances, paint and compressed gas cylinders (metal cylinder with a valve).

• A hazardous material company will be on site to properly dispose of the materials collected.

• Materials should be transported to the collection event in sturdy boxes with newspaper stuffed between the containers to prevent spills.

• Leave items in the original containers.

• Workers will be on hand to unload vehicles, and citizens will be asked to stay in the car.

• Collection events may be canceled due to inclement weather and will be posted on SCDA’s website (agriculture.sc.gov). Possible makeup dates will be announced at a later date.

Lexington County Gas Prices Keep Dropping

Lexington County continues to have some of the cheapest gas in the state.

This week, as the Chronicle went to press Aug. 9, the county was one of three in South Carolina with an average price for a gallon of unleaded gas below $3.40.

The average price in Lexington was $3.395 (down from $3.521 a week before). The other counties below $3.40 are both in the upstate — Anderson ($3.327) and Oconee ($3.342).

The statewide average was also down, going to $3.574 from $3.714 the week before. The national average was likewise down, going to $4.033 from $4.189 the week before.

The average price in the Columbia metropolitan area was $3.431, which continues the downward trend in the area since June. On June 11, the area hit its highest recorded average price of $4.593.

According to GasBuddy, which ranks the best gas prices according to user reports, the lowest gas prices in Lexington County as of Aug. 9 were:

Sam’s Club (350 Harbison Blvd. in Columbia) — $3.13

Murphy Express (2925 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia) — $3.16

Kangaroo (1190 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia) — $3.18

Circle K (2600 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia) — $3.18

Speedway (1208 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia) — $3.18

Shell & Circle K (2308 Augusta Hwy. in West Columbia) — $3.19

Walmart (1355 Knox Abbot Dr. in Cayce) — $3.19

Murphy Express (2818 Augusta Rd. in West Columbia) — $3.19

Walmart (1019 Old Barnwell Rd. in West Columbia) — $3.21

Mobil (2990 Sunset Blvd. in West Columbia) — $3.22