Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Could 670 new homes reshape rural Lexington County near Gilbert?
You won't want to miss Book Donation Day on the Lexington Patch calendar
Coffee in hand, Lexington? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Could 670 new homes reshape rural Lexington County near Gilbert?
- Which 2026 projects will change how you drive and dine locally?
- Which Lexington lawmakers will shape taxes, roads, and schools this year?
Also on today's calendar: Book Donation Day.
Find out what's happening in Lexingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)
From our Partner
Today's Lexington Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. Patch AM is brought to you in part by T-Mobile. After investing billions to light up their network from big cities to small towns, T-Mobile is America's best mobile network in the US, according to Ookla Speedtest. We thank T-Mobile for their support in helping to keep communities like ours connected and for making today's Lexington Patch AM possible.
Find a T-Mobile store near Lexington.
Find out what's happening in Lexingtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: A shower and thunderstorm, with a high of 79 and low of 50 degrees.
- Sunday: Partly sunny; breezy, cooler, temps: high: 56, low: 27.
- Monday: Plenty of sunshine, with a high of 53 and low of 28 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• Hundreds of homes proposed for rural Lexington County as council member warns of roads, schools strain (wltx.com) — Hundreds of new homes are being proposed for a rural part of Lexington County near Gilbert, raising alarms about traffic, school crowding, and strain on narrow local roads. A zoning variance to allow roughly 670 homes on 355 acres goes before the Lexington County Board of Zoning Appeals on Jan. 20, with public comments due Jan. 19. 
• Here are the major developments to watch for in Lexington County in 2026 (thestate.com) — Major construction and business projects are reshaping Lexington County in 2026, from a new Courtyard by Marriott hotel rising in downtown Lexington to a popular ice cream shop opening on Columbia Avenue. Residents will also see major traffic and infrastructure changes in West Columbia, Cayce, Chapin, and the Mill Village area as multimillion-dollar road, parking, and utility upgrades move ahead.
• Who represents Richland, Lexington County in the statehouse? Here's who to know (thestate.com) — Lawmakers representing Lexington and Richland counties are gearing up for the new legislative session, where they’ll influence taxes, road funding, and school dollars that affect local residents. The piece spotlights key figures from Lexington County, including Micah Caskey, Freedom Caucus members, and several senators and representatives whose decisions will shape daily life in the Midlands.
📸 Around Lexington
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Lexington
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Book Donation Day
6251 St Andrews Rd, Columbia
9:00 am
Saturday January 10
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
📣 Lexington Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Wilderness First Aid Course - Wilderness First Aid
Camp Coker , 2056 Camp Coker Rd. , Society Hill
8:30 am - Muscogee Lodge - 2026 Winter Banquet - Winter Banquet
Lyttleton Street United Methodist Church , 1206 Lyttleton St , Camden
5:00 pm - Monday Night Group Dance Classes
Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce , 103 Legion Plaza Rd. , Columbia
6:15 pm - Atakwa District Committee
Indian Waters Council - Boy Scouts of America , 715 Betsy Dr # B6 , Columbia
7:00 pm - January 2026 Partner Luncheon
St. Andrews Presbyterian Church , 6952 St. Andrews Rd. , Columbia
11:30 am - Rotary Club of Chapin Sunrise
Crooked Creek Park Chapin, SC 29036
7:30 am - Catoe White
SouthShore Grill & Grocery , 3106 US-378 , Leesville
6:00 pm - Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Indian Waters Council - Boy Scouts of America , 715 Betsy Dr # B6 , Columbia - Atakwa District Roundtable
LDS Church (behind Florence YMCA) , 1620 S Malden Dr , Florence
7:00 pm - Business Bites: Mastering AI with Practical Tips and Troubleshooting
Irmo Chamber , 1235 Columbia Avenue , Irmo
8:30 am - Craft and Draft Irmo- Columbia's 20th Anniversary Event
Craft and Draft Irmo , 7583 St Andrews Rd , Irmo
1:00 pm - Are You Ready for It?
Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College , 7300 College St #2361 , Irmo
7:30 pm
Saturday January 10
Monday January 12
Tuesday January 13
Wednesday January 14
Thursday January 15
Saturday January 17
Monday January 19
Tuesday January 20
Wednesday January 21
Saturday March 21
Friday March 27
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Lexington PatchAM possible:
- e-vos LLC — (843) 410-0050
e-vos IT Support, Cloud Services and Cybersecurity - John W. Molony Law Firm, LLC — (843) 762-5732
Arrested? Call Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyer John W. Molony! - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
Click here to show your appreciation! 💚
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- There is understandable interest in the Walk for Peace journey by Buddhist monks and they are expected to walk through the Town of Lexington sometime tomorrow afternoon.
The Lexington Police Department is collaborating with the Lexington County Sheriff's Department with this event and will be ensuring the monks safety… (Nextdoor ) - Puppy found in the road on Calks Ferry on 1/7/25.
Must provide proof of ownership and sex to claim. Call 8032374437. (Nextdoor Roscoe Rd)
- Firehouse Subs posted a job opening for Team Member in Lexington. Apply here.
- Dribbler LLC posted a job opening for Private Soccer Coach in Lexington. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Lexington here.
🗞 Nearby News
West Columbia
- West Columbia is attracting newcomers, see how to access residential services (westmetronews.com)
- East Point Academy to participate in the Columbia/Lexington School and Family Resource Fair, on Jan. 26, at Brookland Baptist Church (westmetronews.com)
- Monks' Walk for Peace to make two peace gathering stops in Columbia on Saturday: Where to see them (wltx.com)
Cayce
- Large Industrial Space Available in Cayce for lease of sale, with access to I-26 and Columbia Metropolitan Airport (westmetronews.com)
Chapin
Ok Lexington! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.