Columbia news

Food Facility Reopening, Bringing 330 Jobs to the Midlands

Tyson Foods is reopening their South Carolina plant – and, bringing hundreds of jobs to the Midlands.

The facility, located on Bluff Road in Columbia, will be producing pre-packaged beef and pork and is expected to begin production in May.

The total investment of the Tyson Foods plant should reach $55 million over the next three to five years. Tyson Foods received tax cuts and exemptions from the state in exchange for the reopening of the facility.

The Columbia-based facility will employ 330 people to carry out its operations and will be paying them a slightly higher wage than before.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster is also thrilled about the reopening of the facility saying in a statement that “Tyson Foods’ initial $42 million investment, and the 330 jobs that will result from it, will help continue South Carolina’s tremendous economic growth. We look forward to continuing our state’s fruitful partnership with Tyson and to their continued commitment to South Carolina and our people.”

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Statue Honoring Gamecock Basketball Star A’ja Wilson Erected in Columbia

On Monday January 18, 2021, a statue of Gamecock women’s basketball star A’ja Wilson was unveiled outside of the Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.

A’ja Wilson, who grew up in Hopkins, South Carolina, had an outstanding career at the University of South Carolina, leading the Gamecocks to their first ever Final Four in 2015 and eventually clenching a NCAA title in 2017.

Wilson has gone on to play in the WNBA after being selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft by the Las Vegas Aces.

The significance of the date the statue was unveiled cannot go unnoticed. The unveiling took place on Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a date that Wilson herself felt was symbolic for many reasons.

“This is the day we recognize the great Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King [Jr.],” Wilson said. “My grandmother couldn’t even walk on this campus; she had to walk around [it]. If she was here today to see her granddaughter has a statue where she once could not walk … it goes to show how you just plant seeds, and that’s what it’s all about.”

Photo Copyright: ALLEN L SHARPE 2018

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Historic Building in Columbia Set to Be Renovated After Sustaining Fire Damage

Columbia’s historic Babcock Building has been cleared to undergo renovations after previously catching fire earlier this year.

The Babcock Building, located off Bull Street in downtown Columbia, was first built between 1857 and 1885 and was used to treat patients with mental illnesses. The building caught fire in September, causing extensive damage to the building’s historic dome and much of its interior.

The Babcock Building was undergoing renovations to create over 200 apartments in the historic structure before the blaze took place. The renovations will follow the same plan and cost around $55 million, which is being provided by a low-interest federal loan through the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The project is supposed to take three years to complete and is part of a large-scale redevelopment plan for the BullStreet District.

In a statement on the approval of the renovation, Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said, “This announcement is a tremendous Christmas gift to all of the Midlands. Babcock has an important place in our past and, more importantly, our future.”

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Local Columbia Teen Lands ‘Kim Possible’ Role In Live-Action Movie

Featured Image Source: WIS News

Call her, beep her, if you want to reach her.

The new Kim Possible live-action movie is set to start production this year and a Columbia teen will bring the popular character to life.

Sadie Stanley, 17 years old, will play Kim Possible alongside Sean Giambrone who will play Ron Stoppable. Together they will take down evil villians in their spare time when they aren’t being normal high school students.

Sadie got the part after her very first audition at age 16. She recently shared this story during an interview with Seventeen magazine, “The first audition for Kim Possible was my very first audition in LA and so I was a little out of my league.”

Although, according to The Senior VP Casting and Talent Relations at Disney Channel, Judy Taylor, you wouldn’t think so. She recently told The Hollywood Reporter “Sadie delivers Kim’s confidence, smarts, and agility; most importantly, she’s an everyday girl with an extraordinary spirit.”

Congratulations to Sadie, we can’t wait to watch.