Defense Contractor Attorney Near West Columbia, SC

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Hundreds of South Carolinians gathered Monday in Columbia and West Columbia to pay their final respects to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, honoring the civil rights leader with a downtown procession, a public visitation at the State House and an evening memorial service.

Jackson returned to his home state Monday, escorted by the South Carolina Highway Patrol to the State House. Inside, family members held a private remembrance before welcoming the public. For hours, mourners filed through the State House, reflecting on a legacy that spanned decades of work for equal rights.

“This is somebody who was a history maker. He is an individual who made it a reality for people like me to even consider running for the highest office in the land,” said state Rep. Jermaine Johnson of Richland County.

Monday evening, mourners continued celebrating Jackson’s life at Brookland Baptist Church, where the service included music, memories and prayer.

As much as he sacrificed, and as much as we sacrificed, we were not sacrificed,

said Santita Jackson, Jackson’s daughter.

Priscilla Williams Till, a justice advocate and cousin of Emmett Till, said Jackson’s impact on her family’s fight for justice has been lasting. Emmett Till was a 14-year-old boy who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after teasing a young white store clerk.

We need leaders like Jesse Jackson, those that will stand up and call out injustice,

Williams Till said.

“He was that anchor to keep this story out here and have people listen to what actually happened to Emmett before everything that happened with the reopening of the case, the exhuming of the body, if you didn’t have Jesse Jackson supporting Mamie, none of these things would’ve happened,” she said.

Santita Jackson also spoke about her father’s resilience, saying, “Although his health failed, his spirit did not.”

Celebration of life services for Jackson will continue later this week in Chicago, including a public service at House of Hope and a private homecoming at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

WEST COLUMBIA — Shay Winslow has worked as a scrub nurse for years, a job that seems like a far cry from her other gig and passion — bartending.

​But Winslow said they’re a lot more similar than you might think, especially when it comes to being personable and caring for people, which she considers her strengths in both jobs.

​They’re strengths she hopes to embrace and amplify as she opens Ruckers, a new bar heading to Meeting Street in West Columbia.

​What’s Ruckers

Winslow said she first thought of opening Ruckers at 735 Meeting Street last year when she was bartending for the previous tenant, Elevate Social Club. She learned that the business was dissolving and decided, “Hey, why not?”

Soon, Ruckers was born. The new membership-based bar is preceded by a couple of bars and businesses in the Meeting Street space, including an LGBTQ-friendly bar, a comedy venue and a yoga studio.

The bar will operate as a private club with a yearly membership fee of $10, which Chary said is due to liquor-by-the-drink rules. Ruckers will also be a nonprofit, hosting multiple events benefitting causes like animals in need, battered and sexually assaulted women, homeless and at-risk children and wounded warriors.

​It will serve all the basic drinks plus Elwood Prison Wine, a wine made by a Columbia resident and fellow healthcare worker. Ruckers also plans to offer a variety of classic bar foods, such as hot dogs, pizza, nachos and pretzels.

​Jason Cherry, Winslow’s partner and the self-described “paperwork guy” for Ruckers, said he saw the building not only as an opportunity to support a lifelong dream for Winslow, but to build a new gathering space.

​“(We) thought it was a great place for the community,” Cherry said. “And looking along the stretch you've got WECO over there, which is great for craft beer, Savage is great for local craft beer and really good food, but almost envisioning a dive bar, right? A neighborhood friendly dive bar.”

Ruckers looks to open along Meeting Street as change is on the horizon. New businesses such as Savage, Ruckers’ coffeeshop neighbor Brickhouse, and the hot dog spot Greedy Rascals have filled in gaps along the central West Columbia thoroughfare in the last half-decade, and West Columbia plans to cut down the road to two lanes in an effort to beautify the area and increase walkability.

For Ruckers’ décor and ambiance, Winslow said she was inspired by dive bars, but mostly “it’s always been about music.”

A small stand in the corner will be fixed with a new screen and turned into a performance space for live bands booked by local musician Jeff Pitts.

​The bar’s walls are covered in music posters ranging from Wu-Tang Clan to Bloodhound Gang. Many are from Winslow’s house, while others are taken or gifted from other bars or service industry workers around town. ​

​“She's very artistic and sees a much bigger picture. Like I when we first walked in here, I looked at it, and was like, ‘Eh,’ but she definitely had a vision,” Cherry said. “She knew what this place could be. And so it's been really awesome to watch it come together.”

Family and community values

Since she started posting about Ruckers on social media, Winslow said she’s been moved by the support she’s received and is most excited about getting closer to customers.

“I found this sign that says, come as you are, and that's kind of been the staple,” Winslow said. “I keep putting on Facebook like, we can't wait to meet our regulars type thing, because we want it to be a homey feel more like, where all of our friends are.”

This philosophy reflects how she sees the bar as a family affair. The name Ruckers comes from her brother’s last name, and to her, it's not just fun for a slogan (for which Winslow has thought of many play on words for) but a legacy.

“He's my hero. He's always been my big brother. So why not choose a name that you already love, that it already means something to you?” Winslow said. “Because I want this place to be nice, and I'm not going to put his name on anything that I feel like it's not.”

Cherry and Winslow know it has been a hard time in the industry, but Cherry said Winslow’s experience makes him feel more confident that they are “where we need to be.”

Cherry said transitioning to owning a bar has meant a lot of “learning on the fly,” but they’re looking forward to what’s next.

“Luckily, I'm good at paperwork, so that helps from at least my aspect,” he said. "And Shay's got just a ton of friends in the community, in the service industry, so she's been able to get a ton of support from the people around here that work at other bars, that know other people, and they've really kind of rallied around her to kind of help support this dream.”

Ruckers aims to open in the coming months, with plans to be open from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Sunday. More information can be found on the bar’s social media.

Photo courtesy of Security 101

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Commercial security solutions provider Security 101, a portfolio company of Gemspring Capital, has announced the acquisition of West Columbia, S.C.-based integrator Secure Lock Solutions.

Secure Lock Solutions is known for door-, lock- and opening-focused integration services supporting commercial and government customers, according to the joint announcement.

The acquisition of Secure Lock Solutions “expands Security 101’s presence in the Southeast and strengthens service continuity across the Carolinas corridor, positioned between the company’s existing branch operations in Charlotte, N.C. and Charleston, S.C,” the announcement says.

The addition “supports improved responsiveness, tighter field coverage and greater capacity to scale delivery for customers operating across multiple sites.”

Why Did Security 101 Acquire Secure Lock Services?

“Secure Lock Solutions is a strong fit for our growth strategy in the Southeast, and their location in West Columbia strengthens our coverage between Charlotte and Charleston,” says Greg Daly, CEO of Security 101, in the joint announcement. “They have built a respected business around fundamentals that matter: doors, locks, and technologies that perform reliably at scale.

“With Security 101’s national network behind them, we can help extend that capability for multi-site customers while continuing the disciplined execution required for complex, mission-critical deployments,” he says.

Secure Lock Solutions “adds a door-focused integration capability that is foundational to physical security performance,” according to the joint announcement. Their work “complements Security 101’s broader portfolio across access control, video surveillance and intrusion by addressing a critical reality of facility security: technology is only as effective as the physical openings it depends on.”

SLS’ expertise “helps customers strengthen door hardware performance, align locking solutions with access requirements and improve reliability across distributed environments,” according to the joint announcement.

Secure Lock Solutions “has developed strong relationships with select national level customers.” Security 101 will “leverage its nationwide infrastructure, engineering depth and service standards to support expanded delivery, more consistent programs across geographies and long-term scalability for those accounts.”

“Customers with multi location footprints need consistency, accountability, and standards they can repeat,” says Craig Shulman, chief financial officer of Security 101, in the joint announcement. “This acquisition strengthens a core integration discipline and supports a more complete service model for customers who expect reliable execution across every facility and every opening.”

SLS also brings experience in government environments, including completion of large projects supporting multiple U.S. armed forces divisions. Security 101 “will build on that foundation with added resources, expanded operational capacity and a national platform designed to support complex security and infrastructure requirements,” according to the joint announcement.

Leadership Continuity

Lucas Bunch and Wyman Bowers, co-owners of Secure Lock Solutions, will continue to lead the SLS team and manage the West Columbia office as the integration moves forward. Working alongside Security 101, they will “help ensure operational continuity, maintain service standards, and support a seamless experience for customers and employees,” according to the joint announcement.

“We built SLS by treating doors and locks as mission critical infrastructure, because that’s exactly what they are,” says Bunch in the announcement. “I’m excited about what it means to bring that specialty into a larger platform that can standardize execution, support bigger programs, and still do the work the right way.”

“Customers rely on consistent performance at every opening, every day, and that requires both precision and accountability,” says Bowers in the announcement. “With Security 101, we can preserve the responsiveness and attention to detail our customers know us for and pair it with a national team that helps them scale with confidence across more facilities, more locations and more complexity.”

WEST COLUMBIA — The highly anticipated Ikie Lu Record Club is set to open in West Columbia on Feb. 19 with plans to combine a champagne and cocktail bar, a restaurant and a jazz kissa to create a unique new dining experience in the River District.

The restaurant’s opening comes after years of planning by owner Matt Catchpole, who first announced the restaurant would be coming to the former Spanish-language church off of Sunset Boulevard in March 2025.

Since then, Catchpole has hosted an occasional event at the space, including a dinner for the 2025 Columbia Food and Wine Festival and a New Year’s event, but he’s mostly focused on creating a food and drink menu and completely reimagining the building with a mid-century modern vibe.

When a Free Times reporter visited the space in late 2025, vintage records filled a shelf against the wall, sleek furniture featuring plenty of natural wood was spread across the seating area and a unique monkey light hung from the ceiling.

Catchpole said he was partially inspired by a Japanese jazz kissa, a café or bar focused on listening to recorded jazz music, and hopes Ikie Lu can be a space where people enjoy listening to vinyl records and be immersed in the restaurant experience.

“As you're listening to music, as you're eating food, as you're drinking wine, as you're having a cocktail, we wanted to help you in that immersion by having this sort of vaguely mid-century design and furniture. And we wanted it to feel almost coastal, but definitely not this coast,” Catchpole said. “And the question is, is it West Coast, or is it East Coast Asia, or is it British West Indies or whatever?”

Catchpole said he wants Ikie Lu to be a place where people leave the rest of the world behind.

“Forget about all the headaches that they've got,” Catchpole said. “Relax and let the worries leave. That's one of the major reasons for restaurants existing in the first place.”

Catchpole’s dedication to creating an immersive environment is reflected in much of Ikie Lu, with the vintage-style speakers incorporated into the décor, the hand-curated vinyl collection, the mid-century modern furniture and wine — which Catchpole said he took care to select based on what companies were working to “showcase their artistry.”

In addition to selling wine by the bottle and the glass, Ikie Lu will open with a limited cocktail menu featuring “really well executed, fresh, well made, very precise versions of classic cocktails.” Catchpole said guests can look forward to drinks like an old fashioned, a Negroni Bianco, a Black Manhattan and a Jack Rudy Tonic Syrup Lime Gin (which is shaken and served like a lime daiquiri).

There will also be a few drinks inspired by his grandmother, the namesake of the restaurant, like a simple Tom Collins and a Miller High Life, which his grandmother would drink just the top layer of when Catchpole’s grandfather opened a new bottle.

And while Catchpole said he wants to create a unique environment, he’s also put a lot of time into ensuring it is approachable and affordable.

“I'm excited about it, because it's the thing that we really enjoy when we travel, is finding a space like this that you feel comfortable and feel relaxed and feel like you can enjoy yourself and appreciate some of the nicer things, without having to spend thousands of dollars to do that,” Catchpole said.

Ikie Lu will look to creatively combine upscale tastes in laid-back styles, particularly with its food menu, which will feature items like specialty hot dogs served with caviar, shrimp rolls and crab dip.

The food options, served on everything from boards to buns, also make it easy to eat throughout the restaurant, which has minimal tables, instead opting for chairs and couches for lounging and conversation.

Catchpole’s hope is that the restaurant will become will become a dinner spot, or a stop for pre- or post-dinner drinks, and an opportunity to enjoy music and relaxed time with friends new and old.

The goal is to “make these things super fun and approachable for everybody,” Catchpole said. “To also take the thing that you really enjoy and love and sort of make that accessible and share it with people.”

Ikie Lu Record Club is located at 601 N Lucas St. in West Columbia and will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 3:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

West Columbia’s $15M Mill Village project is upgrading roads, water lines and storm drainage, with work on Alexander Road bringing closures and detours.

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — Work is now well underway on a major infrastructure project aimed at improving water lines, storm drainage and roads in West Columbia.

The $15 million effort focuses on the Mill Village and Alexander Road areas.

“The infrastructure that’s in the Mill Hill is some of the oldest infrastructure in the city of West Columbia,” officials said.

Construction for the Mill Village infrastructure update began about a month ago. Many roads have already been dug up, with steel plates lining the sides and construction vehicles actively working in the area.

West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles explained what the project covers.

“We’re gonna redo all the water lines, all the road surfaces, implement a parking plan throughout the Mill Hill, some storm water to address these open gutters to make traffic flow better and to address issues with the water supply throughout,” Miles said.

West Columbia recently took over the roads from the South Carolina Department of Transportation, which means the city will also be converting some roads to one-way routes for smoother traffic flow.

“The roads will not always be blocked off for construction, but there will be times that Alexander Road will be blocked off, so you just have to look for signage for when it’s going to be open and when it’s going to be closed,” Miles said.

Miles also suggested alternate routes for residents.

“I would come up to State Street, take Highway One or Knox Abbott a little further up instead of hopping off right on Alexander, come up to State Street, come up to Ninth Street, any of those roads and make your way across,” he said.

One neighbor, Lexie Chatam, said the noise has been constant, with construction beginning at 6:30 a.m. and cars driving over steel plates throughout the day.

“We are glad to see that there is some improvements being done here. It is going to be a trying time in the meantime. You don’t know whether your road is going to be blocked off and you’ll be detoured around,” Chatam said.

She also expressed disappointment about old oak trees being removed as part of the road expansion.

“It would be good to see the widened street but I’m gonna miss my oaks,” she said.

The $15 million project is being funded through city infrastructure funds and state grants. It is expected to take 15 months to complete.