Mortgage Broker in Lexington, SC

Regardless of whether we still want to talk about it, COVID-19 is on the rise again in South Carolina and Lexington County.

That’s what Dr. Jonathan Knoche, a medical consultant with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control, told the Chronicle as he helped contextualize COVID numbers acquired by the paper from May through August.

From May 6 to June 24, weekly hospital admissions of confirmed COVID patients — the metric now used to set warning levels for the virus from low to medium to high by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — mostly went down in the state, lowering from 88 to 56 by June 24.

But since then, the state has mostly seen a sharp increase, hitting 102 on July 22, 107 on July 29, 161 on Aug. 5 and 246 on Aug. 12 and 19.

“We've kind of been at a generally low level of circulation in the community, but over the course of the last month and a half or so we're starting to see the number of hospitalizations go back up and the percentage of [emergency department] visits due to COVID also increasing,” Knoche said. “For July 1, that week, the percentage of ED visits due to COVID was 0.5%. And for the week of Aug. 19, that weekly percentage of ED visits was 3%. So that's six times as many.”

He noted that the current numbers aren’t terrible — there were 793 people admitted to hospitals in the state with COVID the week of Dec. 31, 2022, he cited as an example of how bad it’s been in the past — but people should still be concerned and take caution.

The fall and the holidays have seen a pattern of spikes, so the numbers could continue to rise.

“That's why you're hearing public health professionals, physicians, people's primary care doctors really strongly recommending that people stay up to date with their vaccines,” Knoche said. “Because the time that people need it is when they're traveling, when they're getting together with their loved ones during Thanksgiving and over Christmas. Those holidays, those family gatherings and travel are when you see opportunity for these viruses to spread.”

While there are a variety of factors that are likely playing into the rise in COVID cases — recent high temperatures pushing people to congregate inside, for instance — Knoche emphasized that the expected mid-September recommendation of a new COVID vaccine that protects against the XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant could be a particular help, as the virus’ mutation could be part of what is driving the increase in hospitalizations, particularly when it comes to people who are getting COVID again.

He added that typical good habits when it comes to respiratory illness also help stem the spread, including washing hands regularly, covering coughs and sneezes and not going into school or work if you are ill.

Case numbers shared by DHEC for Lexington County and neighboring Richland County fall in line with the rise in COVID statewide.

In Lexington, there were 106 new COVID cases on May 6, with that number mostly going down each week through July 1, when the county had 58. The county has since seen sharp increases, hitting 112 on July 22, 142 on July 29, 240 on Aug. 5, 293 on Aug. 12, 400 on Aug. 19 and 608 on Aug. 26.

Richland saw much the same arc during that time, going from 148 on May 6 to 93 on June 24, and then climbing to 155 on July 22, 185 on July 29, 318 on Aug. 5, 496 on Aug. 12, 563 on Aug. 19 and 898 on Aug. 23.

Knoche cautioned that these numbers might actually be higher than what’s been reported, as the results of at-home tests often don’t make it to DHEC.

Lexington County saw a total of eight COVID deaths between May and Aug. 19, he said.

Weekly hospital admission figures from May through August weren’t immediately available, but both counties saw a spike recently.

In both counties, there were 38 new patients with confirmed COVID admitted to local hospitals in the week leading up to Aug. 12, a 65.2% increase from the previous week, before dropping slightly to 37 in the week leading up to Aug. 19.

That Aug. 12 increase is sharper than the nationwide increase during the same stretch, which was 21%, as 12,613 new confirmed COVID patients were admitted to hospitals throughout the U.S.

The hospitalization numbers are still well below the threshold to raise the county’s Hospital Admissions Level from low to medium, which is 10 admissions per 100,000 people. As of Aug. 19, the latest date for which the levels were updated, the 37 cases in the Lexington area equated to 4.8 admissions per 100,000 people.

Lexington Medical Center, the 607-bed teaching hospital in West Columbia, told the Chronicle it has seen a recent spike in COVID patients, going from a census of nine patients with the virus the week of Aug. 20 to 26 on Aug. 28.

Knoche said that while the recent rise in COVID represents a particular threat to those who are elderly or immunocompromised, getting this message through to the public can be difficult at this point.

“I think that there's a significant amount of fatigue related to hearing about COVID,” he said. “And I get it. I've also been working on this as the beginning of the pandemic, and sometimes you're tired of working on it and trying to say the same thing and message it. But it doesn't change the fact that it's still here. It doesn't change the fact that it's still harming people. And that won't change the fact that we're still going to try our best to educate people about the risks and and the way to reduce those risks by being vaccinated and practicing good health practices.”

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COLUMBIA — In a $10 million real estate deal, Lexington Medical Center has purchased 65 acres at the corner of Interstate 20 and U.S. 1.

The purchase is just the latest investment made by the hospital system, which has been on a growth spree in recent years. The large parcel, located not far from the town of Lexington and the Red Bank area where residential buildout has been focused over the past decade, is nearly the same size as its main hospital campus along Interstate 26.

The hospital system said it currently has no plans for construction at the site, which sits at the southeast corner of the recently expanded interstate interchange, and did not say what the property may be used for in the future.

“Lexington Medical Center regularly evaluates properties across the Midlands as we consider how best to serve our growing communities,” hospital spokeswoman Jennifer Wilson said in an email.

The hospital also purchased roughly 15 acres in adjacent Richland County, near the proposed Scout Motors electric vehicle assembly plant site in Blythewood, for $1.5 million. Plans for that site also have not been announced.

These purchases come on the heels of major construction projects taken on by the hospital.

In March 2021, Lexington Medical cut the ribbon on a new $80 million outpatient medical center in northeast Columbia, containing a surgery center and an MRI unit.

The hospital also is constructing a pair of clinics along busy corridors in Cayce and Forest Acres.

Lexington Medical started as a county-owned hospital some 50 years ago. Then, in 2020, the hospital sought to separate from county control, becoming a nonprofit system with fewer governmental restrictions.

CAYCE — When she first laid eyes on the property that would eventually become her restaurant, the space still had remnants of the previous business.

But Sullange Solomon, a native of the Caribbean island Trinidad and Tobago, had a vision to turn the storefront into the Columbia-area’s first restaurant focused on cuisine from her country.

Solomon saw that vision become a reality when she opened Trini Lime Caribbean Cafe at 2008 State St. in mid-October. The restaurant across from Piecewise Coffee in Cayce has an open-concept dining room with colorful, flowery mural adorning the walls and the flag of Trinidad and Tobago hanging across exposed brick.

“I didn’t want it to be a typical Caribbean restaurant,” Solomon said. “I wanted it to be where people could come in and feel the atmosphere and the vibes and also feel like you’re in the islands.”

The eatery offers a variety of foods that are staples in Caribbean culture. Solomon expertly crafts an Aloo Pie — a large fried pastry that encompasses a filling of seasoned mashed potatoes served with a bright red side of sauce that has a slight kick and is sweet from cinnamon. Or there’s the Jerk Chicken entree paired with rice and cabbage mix.

The cuisine is categorized by spices like Shado Beni — the herb culantro — and thyme. The ingredients and cooking style lends itself to more availability of vegan and vegetarian options, Solomon said.

“Our food comes from Trinidad and Tobago which is a wide variety of culture. We’re a very diverse country. We have Creole influence, Chinese influence, Indian influence, Spanish influence. We have a lot of influences not only in our food, but in our culture,” Solomon said.

She’s been cooking and offering catering in the Columbia-area since 2011. Her Caribbean cafe could be found at places like the annual Columbia International Festival and Soda City Market.

The latter, a weekly market that got started nearly two decades ago, has become somewhat of a small business incubator in Columbia — Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits and Arepa South by Paella’South expanded beyond mobile operations to open brick-and-mortar spots after finding success at the downtown market.

According to residents, the land used to be full of trees. Now it's a construction site, and soon, a new housing and shopping development.

LEXINGTON, S.C. — An area near Red Bank in Lexington is starting to look very different as developers turn a 50-acre plot of land into shopping and residential property.

Austin Dunn is a physical therapist and a client director at Drayer Physical Therapy along Platt Springs Road in Lexington. He's been at the location for two years and recalls seeing a large plot of trees across the street, but he said that the landscape is changing quickly.

"We've seen the trees swaying like the Lorax, falling down. But as I've been coming to work the last few weeks, I've seen more and more clearance and now it's basically a dirt lot."

That's a similar story for Brittany Harris; she lives by the property and has seen it change shape.

"I just noticed they were clearing the area out. A lot of different work trucks and different people out there sometimes during the day. I just kinda figure that they were probably going to put another housing development over there or something," she said.

It's all part of a 50-acre development, according to the NAI Columbia commercial real estate firm.

A press release from the company said the group will be developing the area into a mixed-use area named 'Platt Springs Crossing.' The firm said it will be "bringing multiple national and regional users, along with a residential component, to a growing Lexington market."

The idea of a new place to shop or live makes Harris excited about the possibilities.

"I would definitely like to have another sit-down eatery spot. Just, you know, more family oriented where me and my family can come sometimes on the weekend and just dine in."

Dunn, a White Knoll high school graduate, claims he's seen the area take shape over decades. He's excited an increase in population could mean more business-

"Being a physical therapist, that's my main thing, is trying to help people get better. If there's any injuries or anything else going on...I can get a better opportunity to help people, then that's the main goal."

We reached out to NAI Columbia, who said they are not yet releasing information about the possible businesses or plans for the development.

Finding a good, affordable place to eat has become a more daunting task in recent years.

From inflation to high gas prices, it can be tough to enjoy a meal out on a budget. However Tripadvisor, an online travel company that collects user-generated content and compares retailers and restaurants, has plenty of data on what residents think are relatively inexpensive and good places to eat in the Lexington area.

A visit to the website shows rankings of the best ‘cheap eats’ in Lexington. The ranked, inexpensive restaurants offer a variety of cuisine, from breakfast to Mexican and traditional country cooking.

Below is a list of the five highest-rated ‘cheap eats’ restaurants in Lexington, according to Tripadvisor.

Creekside Restaurant has been open for more than a decade, serving a variety of American cuisine for breakfast, brunch and lunch. Located at 711 E. Main Street, the restaurant is open from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday though Saturday.

Dishes include breakfast bowls with eggs, cheese and a choice of meat, from bacon to catfish, along with omelets, pancakes, French toast, biscuits and sandwiches.

“My niece took us to Creekside for breakfast before we headed off on a road trip back to New England. The menu is a good solid breakfast menu, eggs, griddle items, grits, bakery,” Tripadvisor reviewer ggdeluz wrote.

Lizard’s Thicket got its start in Columbia more than 40 years ago and now has 14 locations, including the high-ranked Lexington spot at 621 W Main St. It focuses on traditional South Carolina home cooking, offering many choices, from steak and eggs and country liver pudding to southern fried catfish, hamburger steak, beef stew or chicken and waffles.

“Lizard’s Thicket is the type of restaurant you’d want in your hometown, that is unless you don’t want to gain weight,” Tripadvisor reviewer Greg B. wrote.

Located at 104-B Scarborough Dr., Knead Pizza was founded by Ian and Kassie Walls in June 2014. The couple came to the Midlands with the Air Force in 2004. After a trip to Afghanistan, Ian Walls transitioned from active duties to the reserves. Then, after moving to Lexington in 2011, the two decided two decided to open their own restaurant after becoming frustrated with the lack of local, all natural food options in the area.

Customers can order traditional pizzas or they can get one of the restaurant’s signature pies, such as the Tatonka, which includes buffalo sauce, cheese, chicken celery, red onion and Ranch or bleu cheese crumbles.

This Mexican restaurant has plenty of flavor to offer. Located at 205 Columbia Ave., Brother’s & Beer offers a hefty selection of different kinds of fajitas, as well as other traditional Mexican dishes like tacos, chimichangas and burritos.

“The menu is extensive and interesting. Entrees range from street food to finer dining so there really are options for the customer,” reviewer 4whatitsworth2day wrote for Tripadvisor.

Groucho’s Deli opened in 1941 in Columbia by Harold “Groucho” Miller, this chain now has delis peppered across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, including the spot at 117 1/2 E. Main Street in Lexington. Groucho’s has always been known for its sandwiches, including the Apollo Dipper, a sub roll filled with hot ham, turkey and Swiss cheese melted together with your choice of sauce. Then there’s the STP Dipper, which has a special blend of roast beef, turkey and Swiss, melted with bread crumbs on a fat sub roll, also served with your choice of sauce.

LEXINGTON, S.C. (WIS) - The Lexington Town Council has started to take steps to approve a destination resort community at Lake Murray.

Officials said private developers are expected to invest more than $733 million into the project.

“This is going to create a one-of-a-kind destination on the lake and I want to thank everyone involved in getting things to this point. To say we are excited would be an understatement,” said MacDougall.

Officials said the current property, known as Smallwood Cove, is located off Beekeeper Court and North Lake Drive. The proposed development includes a marina, two hotels, retail space, and restaurants, as well as 1,100 private residential units across townhomes, and condos.

There will be five acres of land donated to the Town of Lexington to build a regional conference center, the first of its kind on Lake Murray. Mayor MacDougall said the complex will be 50,000 sq. ft. and finish completion in 2028.

The State of South Carolina has already given the Town of Lexington $6 million for the conference center.

Smallwood Cove will be a public/private economic development partnership that will create destination tourism for Lexington County and provide access to the premier lakefront property.

When the resort community is completed, it will generate substantial tax revenue and economic benefits for the state and local community officials said.

400 tourism jobs are expected to be created after the completion of the resort.

“It will attract people from all other states to come in and visit South Carolina to have a conference here, on Lake Murray. That view that you get every afternoon on Lake Murray, looking over the big water. Yeah, it’s going to be what draws people to this area and this region. And everyone will benefit from this, not just the Town of Lexington. The entire county will benefit, Richland County will benefit, the City of Columbia will benefit. People will spread out when they come to this conference center,” concluded Mayor MacDougall.

A spokesperson for The Town of Lexington said the Smallwood Cove project will go to the planning commission next week.

Elected officials said a public hearing for the project is scheduled for June 12.

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