“The Official Airport of the Gamecocks.”

That’s the new title the Columbia Metropolitan Airport will carry after a newly announced partnership with University of South Carolina Athletics. The deal, made through Learfield’s Gamecocks Sports Properties (the university’s multimedia rights holder), is set to be in place for three years.

“We are proud to call the Columbia Metropolitan Airport the Official Airport of the Gamecocks,” Ray Tanner, the university’s athletics director, is quoted. “We appreciate their support as fans make their way to our campus for Gamecock sporting events.” 

The release trumpets the strides the West Columbia airport has made in restoring direct flights following the impacts of the pandemic along with other improvements made to the travel hub.

“With state-of-the-art technology throughout the parking garage and terminal, CAE’s number one priority is making air travel as quick and efficient as possible for its passengers,” the release states. “Served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, CAE gets travelers from around the world to Gamecock Country…with ease. Now offering more than 25 daily flights to 10 major airports in nine cities, getting to Columbia through CAE is now even easier.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to work with Ray Tanner and the teams at the University of South Carolina,” Mike Gula, the airport’s president and CEO, is quoted. “Gamecock Athletics and the entire university are a huge tourism driver in the Midlands, and we look forward to continuing to serve fans from all over the country as they make their way to Columbia for game day.”

Nephron donates gloves to local school district

Nephron Nitrile recently announced a donation of 60,000 of the gloves it makes at the Lexington County plant it opened last year to Lexington County School District 2, which covers nearby municipalities West Columbia, Cayce and Springdale.

“Coming from a family of educators, I am proud to be able to support the nurses and students of Lexington School District 2 with this gift,” Nephron Nitrile owner Lou Kennedy is quoted in a release. “Educators, staff and nurses work tirelessly — day in and out — to make sure our next generation of leaders have what they need to succeed in the classroom, and, whenever we can, the Nephron family is not only going to thank them for their service to our students, we are going to do what we can to make sure they have supplies to make their jobs a little easier.” 

The nitrile plant, located down the road from the Nephron Pharmaceuticals headquarters in the Saxe Gotha Industrial Park, “produces food service, industrial, and medical exam-grade gloves at its 400,000-square-foot facility,” the release states. Nephron Nitrile will produce nearly 3 billion gloves annually, reducing the American dependence on foreign sources of critical personal protective equipment.”

"Nephron is such a great supporter of schools, not only here in Lexington Two but across the Midlands," Lexington 2 Superintendent Brenda Hafner is quoted. "We are appreciative of the donation of gloves from Nephron and the personal partnership with Lou Kennedy. These gloves will benefit our nurses and staff across the district, as well as several programs at our Lexington Two Innovation Center, including Health Sciences. We look forward to building our partnership and expanding the learning opportunities for our students."

Chapin barbecue restaurant getting closer to opening

A restaurant that’s been hotly anticipated for nearly a year is making moves toward opening soon.

518 Smokehouse — an upscale Chapin barbecue restaurant from the Middleton family, which owns the popular spots The Grand and Smoked in downtown Columbia and the new Columbia brewery Peak Drift — announced on Aug. 26 that it has begun the hiring process.

“That means we are just that much closer to opening our new restaurant,” the eatery posted to Facebook. “We can't wait to meet the 518 new staff members.”

With its debut getting closer, 518 is also closing in on naming the dapper, suit-bedecked pig that will serve as its mascot, continuing to solicit the public’s help in deciding his epithet.

After reaching out for name submissions, and reporting that it received 785 ideas, the restaurant is asking for the public to vote at 518smokehouse.com/pick-the-pig-name to decide which of the top nine names will ultimately be used.

The top submissions are:

• Abra-ham Lincoln
• Baron Von Bacon
• Edgar Allen Pork
• Elvis Pigsley
• Murray Porkshire
• Rumpleporksin
• Bona-part
• Chapin Bacon
• Thor The Boar

The newly constructed restaurant will be located at 673 Chapin Rd.

A local company is donating a large number of its wares to local schools.

West Columbia to upgrade athletic facilities

West Columbia announced upgrades to one of its more visible recreation facilities.

“We’re excited to announce that updates are underway at the B Avenue Ball Field and Butler Park. City council made working with the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission (LCRAC) to make improvements to the parks they manage within the City of West Columbia a priority in their annual goals and priorities planning,” the city posted to Facebook. “Staff has worked with the LCRAC to advocate for these improvements.”

The pending upgrades are as follows:

B Avenue Ball Field

• Replace the existing fencing (start and completion in September)
• Remove the press box on the baseball field
• Remove the canteen building
• Remove the batting cages
• Demo and construct a new restroom facility
• Renovate the football press box if possible, if not will demo
• Construct two pickleball courts on the concrete pad

Butler Park

• Replace the existing fencing (Start & Completion in Sept/Oct)
• Repaint/Restripe basketball courts (completed)
• Demo the canteen/restroom building
• Construct a new restroom facility
• Construct two picnic shelters (one may be attached to the new restroom)

“Excited for the improvements being made at the B Avenue Ball Field and Butler Park,” said when sharing the announcement. “These are the first of upcoming projects to improve the parks in our community. I look forward to my family and yours enjoying these improved facilities.”