Bender: Agenda Item Was Misleading BLYTHEWOOD – Prior to voting to go into executive session at the Nov, 24, 2025, town council meeting, no clarification or information was provided to the public concerning what council would be discussing in secret or why council wanted the discussion to be in secret. Instead, Mayor Sloan Griffin read […]
A new chapter: Blythewood enters council-manager era
November 25, 2025 By
BLYTHEWOOD – After warm goodbyes all around to outgoing Town Councilwoman Erica Page, who served a half term on council but chose not to run for another term, Blythewood Magistrate Diedra Hightower administered the oath of office Monday night to returning Blythewood Town Councilman Rich McKenrick and new Councilwoman Trish Hovis. The two were sworn […]
Sumter officials provide strategies for penny tax vote
November 25, 2025 By
FAIRFIELD COUNTY – If Fairfield County and its towns decide to ask voters for a one-cent capital project sales tax, they should expect a full-blown campaign, not a quiet housekeeping measure. That was the message Thursday morning as Sumter County Administrator Gary Dixon and Sumter City Manager Darren McCormick walked Fairfield County officials through how […]
Blythewood Town Council OKs ordinance amendments to reflect government change
November 20, 2025 By
BLYTHEWOOD – During a special called meeting at noon on Monday, Nov. 10, Blythewood Town Council members unanimously voted for final approval of Ord. 2025.008 to amend the Town’s code of ordinances to reflect the change in the form of government from a mayor-council form to a council-manager form. A ‘whereas’ clause was added to […]
Fairfield Co Council workshop set to discuss penny tax referendum
November 13, 2025 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County Council voted in September to raise the county’s millage by 8 mills – the second 8-mills tax increase in as many years. County Administrator Vic Carpenter termed the 2025 increase a capital project tax that can be used to purchase county vehicles in the future. In October, council heard an overview […]
Animal control ordinance advances
November 13, 2025 By
WINNSBORO — The Fairfield County Council meeting agenda on Monday included a second reading of Ordinance 851, which repeals and replaces the county’s current animal control ordinance (No. 737). The proposed ordinance was developed by an ad hoc committee established earlier this year by county council to review and recommend updates to Fairfield County’s animal […]
Helping hands during shutdown
November 13, 2025 By
BLYTHEWOOD – As the government shutdown moves into the second month, people who depend on SNAP and other government subsidies are running out of food …and some of those people live in Blythewood. Town council members stepped up Monday night during a special called council meeting to talk about what the Town can do to […]
Veterans – learn more about SC Property Tax exemptions
November 6, 2025 By
COLUMBIA – More than 386,000 military veterans live in South Carolina, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The SCDOR encourages qualifying South Carolina veterans to learn more about Property Tax exemptions on both real and personal property. Which military veterans qualify for SC Property Tax exemptions? Veterans who have a total, permanent, and […]
Hovis, McKenrick win town council race
November 4, 2025 By
BLYTHEWOOD – Newcomer to Blythewood politics Trish Hovis was the top vote-getter with 421 votes, and incumbent Rich McKenrick wasn’t far behind with 378 votes to take the two open town council seats in Tuesday’s Blythewood general election. Candidate Ja’maal Mosely received 337 votes, Corey Mitchell received 326, and Marcus Taylor, 165. Roberta Young, who […]
Michelle Layman sues Town for false imprisonment, Mayor Griffin for defamation
October 31, 2025 By
COLUMBIA—A Richland County woman who suffered a heart attack after she says town officials improperly detained her inside Doko Manor has filed suit against the town and its mayor. On Oct. 30, 2025, town residents Michelle and Fred Layman sued the Town of Blythewood for gross negligence, negligence, defamation, false imprisonment, and abuse of process. […]
