The state Department of Transportation announced a road closure as it conducts repairs on a Lexington County bridge.

All lanes are blocked on Old Dunbar Road from Edmund Highway to Creekside Road, as DOT conducts maintenance on a bridge over the Savana Branch creek near Pine Ridge.

The stretch of Old Dunbar Road was closed Jan. 23 and is scheduled to reopen Feb. 3. It will be open to local traffic only while the work is conducted.

DOT recommends that travelers in the area take Edmund Highway and Creekside Road to detour around the work area.

Per the department’s website, Old Dunbar Road is also slated for the addition of centerline rumble strips, as part of a project bringing this improvement to roads in Lexington, Richland, Kershaw and Lee counties.

Chapin foundation reveals donations

The Greater Chapin Community Foundation has awarded $21,500 to 15 local nonprofits.

Per a release from the foundation, “The grants recognize nonprofit organizations in the Greater Chapin area that provide for the needs of local citizens, develop tomorrow’s leaders, preserve community history and enhance public good through the arts.”

Receiving grants were American Legion Auxiliary Unit 193, American Legion Post 193, Boys Farm Inc., the Chapin Community Theatre, the Chapin We Care Center, the Crooked Creek Art League, Girl Scouts of South Carolina Mountains to Midlands, Good Works, Junior Achievement of Greater South Carolina, Multiplying Good, the Palmetto Conservation Foundation, The Courage Center, The Justin Pepper Foundation, The Period Project, and the Troop Appreciation Foundation.

The Greater Chapin Community Foundation is an affiliate of the Central Carolina Community Foundation and is publicly funded by residents in Chapin, Ballentine, White Rock, Peak, Prosperity and nearby communities.

The release emphasizes that the organization “encourages donations to enhance and grow the endowment so the fund can support an increasing number of Greater Chapin organizations.”

The foundation donates proceeds annually to local nonprofits.

“GCCF is proud to deliver on its promise to our donors by investing in these incredible organizations whose vital work will benefit our community,” Nicholle Burroughs, the foundation’s chair, is quoted.

Kinetic Derby Day test runs to be held

West Columbia will close a portion of Meeting Street Jan. 28, as it conducts a test run to prepare for Kinetic Derby Day, the annual soapbox race down the street.

The test will assess the obstacle course portion of the event, slated to return April 22 along with the iMAGINE STEAM Festival on State Street.

“Racers will be able to test out the Jello Explosion and Foam Surprise obstacles,” a release states. “In addition to these obstacles, Whetzel's Automotive's rollback will be onsite for the first-ever start ramp at Kinetic Derby Day.”

The obstacle course test runs will be conducted from 9 to 10 a.m. in front of Brookland United Methodist Church (541 Meeting St.), with Meeting Street closing from North Witt Street to Leaphart Street from 8 to 11 a.m.

After the test run, Kinetic Derby Day Representatives will lead a soapbox building demonstration from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Richland County Library (1431 Assembly St. in Columbia).

Race registration is open at kineticderbyday.com and closes April 16.

New Lizard’s Thicket coming to county

The Red Bank area will have a new spot to go to for country cooking.

Local meat-and-three chain Lizard’s Thicket will build a new location along the 1700 block of South Lake Drive near the Popshelf and Walmart stores there, The State’s Chris Trainor writes, attributing the information to Lizard’s Thicket operations manager Robert Williams and community relations manager Sara Kristow.

The hope is for the location to open by the end of the year.

“We do better in Lexington County than anywhere we go,” Williams is quoted. “It’s full of working families who grew up on this food, and it’s a great market for us.”

According to the Lizard’s Thicket website, the chain has five locations in Lexington County, including restaurants in Lexington, Irmo, Cayce, West Columbia and the Oak Grove area. Overall, the chain has 14 locations, 13 of which are in the Midlands and one of which is in Florence.