🌱 Will Friday night football traffic soon pour through your neighborhood?

Good morning West Columbia! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Will Friday night football traffic soon pour through your neighborhood?
• Are you making these winter fire hazards in your West Columbia home?
• Which West Columbia site just landed dozens of new manufacturing jobs?

Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Partly sunny and cool, with a high of 52 and low of 32 degrees.
• Friday: Plenty of sunshine, temps: high: 60, low: 39.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 61 and low of 46 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Midlands school wants to connect neighborhood to football stadium, despite outcry (thestate.com) — Neighbors near Gray Collegiate Academy’s West Columbia campus are pushing back against a proposed new access road that would route football game traffic through their residential streets. School leaders say the extra exit is needed for emergency access during big games, while county planners worry they can’t enforce limited use. Lexington County Council has sent the rezoning request back for further review.
   

• West Columbia Fire Chief Marquis Solomon offers tips to help keep your home safer in winter; Practice energy efficiency, too (westmetronews.com) — West Columbia Fire Chief Marquis Solomon is urging residents to take extra care with heaters, extension cords, decorations, and smoke alarms to prevent winter house fires. He reminds families to keep space heaters and holiday décor away from heat sources, test alarms, and notes the fire department will install smoke detectors for those who need them, while also sharing winter energy-saving tips.
   

• 100+ new jobs planned for Midlands county, after council approves tax incentives (thestate.com) — More than 100 new manufacturing jobs are headed to Lexington County, including 60 at a new Hoffman & Hoffman facility planned for 1 Southern Court in West Columbia. County council approved tax incentives for that project and another by U.S. Venture, which together represent over $22 million in investment and add to a growing list of industrial expansions this year.
   

📸 Around West Columbia

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 11

• Winter Arts Night
  Polo Road Elementary Columbia, SC 29223
  5:30 pm
• Chinquapin Roundtable and Chili Cook-off
  Zion Lutheran Church , 226 Corley Mill Rd , Lexington
  7:00 pm
• Orchestra Winter Concert
  Dutch Fork High Irmo, SC 29063
  7:00 pm

Friday December 12

• 2025 Chicora's Executive Challenge Camporee
  Myrtle Beach State Park , 4401 S Kings Hwy , Myrtle Beach
  6:00 pm
• Catoe White
  Lucky's Sports Shack , 3030 Charleston Hwy , Cayce
  7:00 pm
• St. Nick & St. Lucy Party
  5220 Clemson Ave , Columbia
  10:30 pm

Sunday December 14

• Grinchin on a Budget "Brunch"
  Luxe Life Events , 6729 Two Notch Rd suite 10B , Columbia
  1:00 pm

Monday December 15

• MahJongg Players
  6408 Bridgewood Rd , Columbia
  3:00 pm
• GYM- Dent vs. Longleaf (Away) Basketball Girls/Boys
  Dent Middle Columbia, SC 29206
  4:30 pm
• Monday Night Group Dance Classes
  Greater Irmo Chamber of Commerce , 103 Legion Plaza Rd. , Columbia
  6:15 pm

Tuesday December 16

• Coffee Talk
  Stars and Strikes Family Entertainment Center , 800 Lake Murray Blvd. , Irmo
  8:00 am
• Christmas Band Concert
  Dutch Fork High Irmo, SC 29063
  7:00 pm

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 West Columbia PatchAM possible:

• John W. Molony Law Firm, LLC — (843) 762-5732
  Arrested? Call Criminal Defense & DUI Lawyer John W. Molony!
• Dickens Christmas Show & Festivals — (843) 448-9483
  Shop 400+ vendors at the Dickens Christmas Show, Nov 13–16!
• e-vos LLC — (843) 410-0050
  e-vos IT Support, Cloud Services and Cybersecurity

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

• If you are HOMELESS , this means sleeping on the street or in your car and can provide me with proof of this , please reach out to me I have blankets & gloves and pillows if you need them.
  Very clean smoke free and pet free home! I also would love to provide you with a warm meal for dinner if you choose to need a little help. REACH OUT… (Nextdoor The Dales)
• Neighbors,
  I need help. Of the three feral kittens we’ve been trying to treat for eye infections, two have taken a turn for the worse and I fear I’m out of my… (Nextdoor Hook Avenue)

• Moe's Southwest Grill posted a job opening for Crew Member in West Columbia. Apply here.
• Uniform Advantage posted a job opening for Part-Time Retail Key Holder in West Columbia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near West Columbia here.

🗞 Nearby News

Cayce

• The FREE 2026 Cayce Calendar is out with photos of Soiree, Willie Wells, a pony, and a train (westmetronews.com)
• We the People: Cayce Historical Museum hosts colonial Christmas celebration (wistv.com)
• Cayce has new city attorney and assistant city manager (lexingtonchronicle.com)

Lexington

• Lexington County boys basketball teams start the year with wins (lexingtonchronicle.com)
• Teen entrepreneur opens toy store in Lexington County, amasses $1 million in stock (wistv.com)

Ok West Columbia! 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 could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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