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The Lexington County Joint Municipal Water and Sewer Commission says refinancing some of its bond debt will save $2.18 million.

It will issue $44 million in revenue bonds in this month.

The commission says the bonds will restructure debt and provide funding for new capital projects.

By refunding and defeasing outstanding water and sewer revenue bonds, the commission says it will return approximately $566,000 in reserves.

“The $566K refund is part of an existing debt service reserve account that was required by a previous bond series,” Jay Nicholson of the JMWSC told the Chronicle.

“Now that we are retiring/restructuring that debt, a portion of that reserve fund will be returned to us.”

The commission also says the revenue bonds will provide approximately $20 million for new capital projects.

Scholarship opportunity

County students have an opportunity to win scholarships between $500-2,500.

Senior living community Wellmore of Lexington is accepting applicants for their annual Silver Pen Writing Competition.

This writing competition will award scholarships to 3 local high school seniors.

This year’s essay topic is: “What do you want your legacy to be?”

Participants are required to submit an essay with a minimum of 1,000 words, application form, and transcript.

The members at Wellmore will judge the competition.

Students must submit entries by Feb. 14, 2020 to www.silverpen-slc.com .

To learn more about Wellmore of Lexington or to schedule a tour, call 803-670-8838 or visit www.well-more.com/lexington .

State school board president named

The South Carolina School Boards Association has elected its new president.

Cheryl Burgess, a member of the Lexington County School District 3 Board of Trustees, was named president-elect during the association’s annual Delegate Assembly Dec. 7, in Charleston.

Burgess has served on the Lexington 3 Board of Trustees since 2002.

She has been a member of the SCSBA board since 2010 and has achieved a Level 6 in the Boardmanship Institute Program.

Burgess has served as President of the Twin City Rotary Club, Ambassador for the Batesburg-Leesville Chamber of Commerce and a mentor in the Lexington 3 Mentoring Program. She is currently serving on the Midlands Technical College Advisory Board for the Batesburg-Leesville campus.

New chair of fairs, expositions

Nancy Smith, CFE, of the South Carolina State Fair in Columbia has been elected the 2020 chair of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions.

The announcement was made during the final business session of the 129th IAFE Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas Dec. 1.

Smith is the general manager of the South Carolina State Fair and has more than 30 years of experience in the fair industry.

A native of Columbia, Smith previously operated a catering business. She is a member of First Presbyterian Associate Reformed Church in Columbia and serves on the SC Philharmonic’s Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of the Babcock Center Foundation.

The South Carolina State Fair is a self-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the state’s agricultural roots while supporting statewide education. It awards more than $300,000 in scholarships each year.

Non-profit helps restore sight

Mission Lexington is helping a man regain his sight and his life.

The man, who wishes to remain unnamed, was referred to them by Midlands Fatherhood Coalition of Lexington.

The gentleman is the father of 3 who lost his job due to an eye injury he sustained last April.

The injury has significantly impacted his life as well as his family.

Joseph Gorrin, an ocularist from the upstate, has agreed to do the prosthesis for only the cost in materials. The normal cost for this procedure is over $3,000.

“We are excited to be able to help this gentleman with this unique need,” said Robin W. Bowers, Executive Director of Mission Lexington. “We are always looking for unique ways to help solve the problems of families in crisis, no matter what the crisis looks like.”

The Fatherhood Coalition is working with him to attain his GED, and he is involved with Vocational Rehab.

1st of his kind

Representative Bobby Cox will be South Carolina’s 1st Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs.

Gov. McMaster signed H.3438 into law in May, which created the SC Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The governor’s announcement comes after a months-long search process undertaken by the governor’s advisory panel, which was chaired by former SC Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Bob Livingston.

Colonel Cox is a former Army Ranger and serves as an Army Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army Reserve.

“South Carolina deeply respects and appreciates our military and our veterans,” said Lt. Col. Cox. “With the development of this department we can take that appreciation to the next level and continue to make South Carolina the most military and veteran friendly state in the nation. Being nominated as the 1st ever Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs is hands above one of the best honors I could ever imagine.”

The governor’s appointment is subject to Senate approval.

Council woman recognized

Council member Kathy Maness was recognized on the national level for her leadership and dedication to the Town of Lexington.

Maness received the Women in Municipal Government Award and was named First Vice President of the National League of Cities.

Maness will serve a 1-year term with the NLC, an advocacy organization for 19,000 cities, towns and villages in the US.

The WIMG award recognizes her outstanding achievement and leadership in local government, serving as a role model to future women leaders and a true advocate of her community.

Maness has served on Lexington’s Town Council since 2004.