Defense Contractor Attorney Near West Columbia, SC

West Columbia and Cayce are evolving differently as development progresses. Both cities have witnessed transformation recently, but West Columbia rapidly issues building permits, while Cayce has maintained a deliberate pace. The State continues to follow closely development trends in the neighboring cities across the Congaree River from Columbia. Here are seven stores that chart the cities' trajectory through the first half of 2025.

Across the Congaree River from Columbia, two cities in Lexington County have developed differently over the last decade. As more people move to South Carolina, what does their future hold? | Published January 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

The developer says the new Midlands development shouldn’t cause any traffic problems. | Published January 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

Anecdotally, it seems townhomes are all the rage in the Midlands. Is that really true? | Published February 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade Morgan Hughes

The longtime Midlands senior living community will add around 200 housing units and a clubhouse to its campus. | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

The Canadian-based company, with locations across the United States, is set to bring its first Southeastern site to South Carolina. | Published April 9, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

Officials for the Midlands city highlighted vacant, blighted buildings as an area to improve. Real estate agents say things are looking up. | Published April 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Hannah Wade

The oyster bar with an extensive menu makes plans to move in as the city near Columbia aims to add to its developing arts district. | Published June 26, 2025 | Read Full Story by Riley Edenbeck

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

West Columbia City Council approves a $26.3 million budget with a slight property tax decrease, benefiting homeowners from July 1.

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. — The City of West Columbia Council has given final approval to its financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year, adopting a $26.3 million general fund budget with no increase but rather a slight decrease in the city’s property tax millage rate.

On Monday night, the council held a second and final reading of the ordinance, officially enacting the 2025–2026 budget, which sets spending priorities, fees, and tax policy for the city beginning July 1.

RELATED: Lexington County homeowners might see relief in property taxes

"Multiple years we've been able to keep the same millage… Just good fiscal responsibility and good budgeting practices," said Justin Black, the city’s senior assistant administrator and treasurer.

According to Black, the city will see "no increases in our tax millage. We're actually experiencing a slight reduction in our tax millage for the fiscal year 2025–2026."

Although the decrease is modest, it provides real savings for homeowners. A property currently valued at $100,000, which now pays about $264.97 in taxes, will pay $264.80 under the new rate.

"We budget very conservatively and our council does a great job with fiscal responsibility and have tonight unanimously approved our budget for the fiscal year 2025, 2026 with a minimal decrease to our operating millage," Black said.

City officials say the new budget allocates significant funding for water and sewer system upgrades, improvements to parks and sanitation, and maintaining emergency services.

So you want to go tubing down the river in Columbia because it’s famously hot in summer, but don’t know where to start. No worries — we won’t leave you up the creek without a tube. Whether you’re looking for a laid-back float or a little splash of adventure, Columbia has a few great options for tubing the Saluda River.

We recommend the Riverbanks Zoo to Gervais Street Bridge Route (aka, the Z-G route) for a more active float with gentle rapids. First things first: Check current water-quality reports at How’s My SC River, which shows real-time testing data for the Broad, Saluda, and Congaree rivers before heading out.

The Z-G route is a ~3-hour, 2.5-mile float that begins near Riverbanks Zoo and ends at the West Columbia Riverwalk. This section of the lower Saluda River includes Class I + Class II rapids — small but active stretches of water flowing over rocks — so children must be 10+ to participate.

Where to meet

Palmetto Outdoor | Meet at the West Columbia Riverwalk (131 Alexander Rd., West Columbia) at the kiosk by the bathrooms, 30 min. early to check in. Online registration is encouraged, but walk-up reservations are also available. If you choose to walk up, be sure to bring cash and arrive ~45 minutes before shuttle departure to complete registration and waivers.

Pro parking tips: Park for free in the lot at 109 Alexander Rd. If you run out of space by the river, park in the lot across the street (212 Hudson St.) If that lot is full, head to the multi-level parking garage (310 Court Ave.) located on the corner of State Street — just a 3 min. stroll from the riverwalk.

Saluda Shoals Park | Check in at the Saluda Shoals Park East Entrance (5605 Bush River Rd., Columbia) at the Tube Rental Office, located near the boat ramp. Reservations are not required, but all participants must complete a waiver before heading out. Rental fees include shuttle service to the put-in location upstream on the Saluda River. Return shuttles are also provided.

Pro tip: Admission to the park is $5 per vehicle, and tube rentals are first-come, first-served, so arriving earlier in the day is recommended.

Shuttle services

Palmetto Outdoor | Shuttles run from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturdays and 12–4 p.m. Sunday through Friday. Shuttles leave promptly at the top of each hour. After check-in at the West Columbia Riverwalk, you’ll board the shuttle to the put-in spot near Riverbanks Zoo. Shuttle service is available from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and closed on Wednesdays. You can call ahead for availability outside of those dates.

Saluda Shoals Park | Tube rentals at Saluda Shoals Park include round-trip shuttle service. After checking in at the East Entrance, you’ll be driven upstream to launch your tube. The float ends back at the park, and a return shuttle is available. Tubing hours are 9 a.m.–5 p.m. daily, and the last float must be on the water by 3 p.m.

Palmetto Outdoor offers four options to enjoy your river adventure. Choose between:

Note: Dogs and coolers require their own tube rental. No glass or Styrofoam coolers allowed, and all dogs must wear a life jacket. Pro tip: You can grab river gear at REI, Half-Moon Outfitters, River Runner Outdoor Center, or Barron’s Outfitters.

What’s included: Your shuttle ride, life jacket, and selected tube.

Saluda Shoals Park tube rentals are $15 per person and include a standard single tube, life jacket, and shuttle service. Tubes are first-come, first-served, and no custom tube types are available.

Walk-ups are welcome, but online registration is encouraged. Check in at the East Entrance (5605 Bush River Rd.) and head to the tube rental area near the boat ramp. Last float must be on the water by 3 p.m.

What’s included: Tube, life jacket, and round-trip shuttle from the park.

What to bring

Other local tubing options

Looking for more flexibility? Palmetto Outdoor offers a Grab-n-Go rental option for $15, which includes a tube and life jacket — perfect for floating on your own schedule at public put-ins like Lake Murray. Just note: this option does not include shuttle service, and gear must be returned by 7 p.m.

Want something calmer and more kid-friendly? Saluda Shoals Park offers a flat-water float with included shuttle service — scroll up for full details.

A local bakery that started in a home (using an improvised sunroom as a kitchen) and built a following at Soda City Market now has a new home in West Columbia.

JJ's Place SC celebrated its soft opening Monday at the new storefront at 557 Meeting Street and will be open Monday through Friday 8-5 to start, with those hours potentially shifting to meet customer demands.

Co-owners Janice Caldwell and Andrew Reininger launched JJ's three years ago. Caldwell was an experienced baker, Reininger a newcomer to the craft. Both had taken evening classes through the University of South Carolina's School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

Caldwell shared her dream of owning her own bakery and as Reininger recalls "I said 'We can do that.' She is the mastermind." The two found an investor, took a road trip to Chicago to purchase equipment, set up in a sunroom, and were off.

They started by baking pastries and sweets, but when they applied for a spot at Soda City Market, they were told that the market's slots for dessert vendors were filled, but they could have a place if they baked bread.

"I think I had two bread recipes at the time, but I still said yes. Then I called Janice and told her we needed to come up with more," Reininger recalls. "Soda City turned out to be our bigger break."

The business partners built a loyal following at Soda City, and eventually purchased the former house at 557 Meeting Street in West Columbia that is now the home of JJ's Place SC. Reininger and his brother remodeled the interior from ground to roof.

"It was not an easy journey," as Reininger says, but they made it. Already, he and Caldwell are making plans to add on. They have a website under construction and hope to hire additional staff and eventually take online orders.

They will still be at Soda City on Saturday mornings. "It's one of our favorite parts of the week," Reininger says. "We love our regular customers and having time to just chat."

JJ's offers a variety of fresh homemade loaf bread, baguettes, smaller breads, traditional English-style scones, muffins, pastries and other sweets. Follow them on Instagram and Facebook for more information.

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - A West Columbia man is facing federal charges after allegedly directing a woman in Brazil to sexually exploit her nieces.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office a federal grand jury returned a 13-count indictment for 55-year-old Stephen Todd Greene. The incident includes counts of conspiracy to produce child sexual abuse material, two counts of production of child sexual abuse material, four counts of distribution of child sexual abuse material, three counts of receipt of child sexual abuse material, possession of child sexual abuse material, and two counts of coercion and enticement of a minor into illegal sexual conduct.

Federal prosecutors said Greene allegedly worked with the woman to sexually exploit her nieces, ages 3 and 9, from June 2023 through September 2024.

Greene allegedly abused the children virtually by livestreaming their sexual abuse to his home in South Carolina. He’s also accused of directing the woman to abuse the children over a livestream and produce, receive, distribute and possess child sexual abuse material.

The indictment states Greene and the woman used Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram and FaceTime as well as a series of cameras installed in Greene’s home and in the woman’s home to conduct the livestreams.

Greene also allegedly went to Brazil twice and gained direct access to the children and transferred money to the woman through a wire service.

Officials said Greene was arraigned in federal court on Thursday, where he was ordered to be held until a future bond hearing.

Green faces a maximum penalty of life in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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