COLUMBIA KIDS DAY
Columbia hosts special wellness day just for kids
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The City of Columbia is encouraging children to get up and get moving with a family fun day this weekend.
On Saturday, the city's Parks and Recreation Department is putting on its annual Let's Move - Kids Day at Finlay Park.
The daylong event includes an interactive family fun zone and petting zoo. There is also a family fitness challenge, pony rides and live entertainment.
The event is free and open to the public. It's part of an initiative that focuses on encouraging kids and parents to live active lives and eat healthily.
SENIORS FARMERS MARKET
SC issuing free farmers' market coupons to seniors
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Some South Carolina seniors can line up for free and healthy food, thanks in part to a state agency.
St. John Baptist Church and the South Carolina Department of Social Services are teaming up to hand out free coupons to low-income people age 60 and older. The coupons can be used to buy $25 worth of fresh fruits and vegetables at local farmers' markets from now through Oct. 15.
The coupons are being handed out Saturday at the church on West Beltline Boulevard.
The program is called the Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. Applications must be submitted in person, and people need to be able to prove their identity and residence in Richland County.
LAKE-BODY FOUND
Authorities ID man's body found in SC lake
SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) - Authorities in Cherokee County have identified a man whose body has been found in a lake.
Coroner Dennis Fowler identified the man Friday as Terry Lynn Martin Jr. of Gaffney.
Fowler said in a statement that Martin was reported missing by a family member Thursday night. Sheriff's investigators began an immediate search that continued into the morning after they received information that Martin had last been seen at Lake Whelchel.
Martin's body was discovered about 10:30 a.m. floating face down in about 5 feet of water some 20 feet off shore. The body was recovered more than two hours later.
Fowler said he's scheduled an autopsy for Saturday to determine exactly how Martin died.
BANK LAWSUIT-TREASURER
SC retirees' leader says deal creates questions
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The president of the State Retirees Association says South Carolina's settlement with the Bank of New York Mellon seems like a bad deal for retirees.
Wayne Bell said Friday it creates lots of questions. But he added it may be the best South Carolina could hope for, considering the wealth of the global investments company.
The treasurer's office sued the bank in January 2011, accusing it of losing $200 million in retirees' money through bad investments that violated its contract. Under the settlement obtained by The Associated Press, the bank agrees to put $25 million in South Carolina's accounts, with $20 million going to retirees' pension fund.
It awards the bank a new, 10-year contract that includes fee discounts.
Treasurer Curtis Loftis said he could discuss the details next week.
SPOLETO FESTIVAL USA
Spoleto Festival USA opens 37th season
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - The 37th season of the internationally known Spoleto Festival USA is under way.
The festival opened Friday with a brass fanfare, speeches and a shower of confetti in front of Charleston City Hall.
Festival Board Chairman Carlos Evans dedicated the festival to the memory of Ted Stern, who was the original board chairman when the festival began in Charleston in 1977. Stern, also a president of the College of Charleston, died earlier this year at age 100.
This year is the last season for Joseph Flummerfelt, who has overseen festival choral activities in Charleston since the festival was founded. He said while he is leaving his role, he will regularly return as an audience member in the future.
This year, there are 160 performances during the 17-day festival run.
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