Ballentine News

According to Richland County officials, a garbage truck ran into a home on Persimmon Wood Court in the Ballentine area of the county at about 11 a.m. Thursday.

With a rash of big-box closings, the retail occupancy rate in the Columbia area dipped below 90 percent for the first time in roughly a decade in 2009, falling to 88 percent, according to two new reports.

Richland County authorities say at approximately 11:00 a.m. Friday, a garbage truck hit a home on Persimmon Wood Court in Ballentine.

Santa's sleigh got a police escort as it rolled through the Belmont area this week.

Many of the nation's teachers deliberate on how to bring technology into their classrooms.

Flowers will bloom no more and the popular Christmas lights will be dark at Derrick's Azalea Farm in Ballentine.

John Crosby and John Reynolds think their restaurants in the Irmo area are in perfect places.

State Rep. Ted Pitts, of Lexington, said he is dropping out of the Republican race for lieutenant governor because his National Guard unit has been called to serve in Afghanistan.

PUBLIC FORUMS: 7-8:30 tonight at the Ballentine Community Center, 1009 Bickley Road and 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept.

An Irmo playground about to open may not have been built if not for the generosity of WIS News 10 viewers and the National Guard.

ST. ANDREWS REGIONAL BRANCH: Kids' Cozy Corner, story time for all ages, 10:30 a.m. Thursdays.

WHAT'S GOOD HERE: Get to know the people behind local restaurants. Dean Quenneville opened the Cedar Cabin in Lexington in March with his brothers, John Quenneville and Mike Daly.

Tired of navigating around pallets of juice boxes and potato chips in Wal-Mart ? A new Wal-Mart model opening Aug.

Melanie Huggins took over as director of the Richland County Public Library last week.

Newberry County authorities on Wednesday started to arrest 42 men and women wanted on charges after a yearlong drug investigation, a Newberry County Sheriff's Office news release said.