The SC Business Licensing Officials Association elected its 2025 – 2026 board of directors. They are President Kathy Teague, business license supervisor, City of Union; Vice President Andrew Ridout, business licensing administrator, City of Aiken; and Secretary/Treasurer Angie Wilson, business license specialist, City of Anderson. The members at-large are Randie Evans, permitting & licensing coordinator, City of Florence; Sonya Lee, business license coordinator, Town of Lexington; and Kelly Smith, business license administrator, City of Columbia. The past president is Cynthia Oliver, city clerk, City of Hardeeville.
The SC Municipal Finance Officers, Clerks and Treasurers Association also elected its 2025 – 2026 board of directors. They are President Laura Snelling, chief financial officer, City of Abbeville; Vice President Amber Barnes, assistant town administrator, Town of Pendleton; and Secretary/Treasurer Bert O’Rear, town administrator, Town of Olar. Other board directors are Paula Payton, town clerk and administrator, Town of Pelzer; Laura Hembree, finance director, City of Union; Shannon Bowers, municipal clerk, Town of Chapin; and Lynda Williamson, finance director, City of North Augusta. The past president is Erika D. Moore Hammond, city clerk, City of Columbia.
PalmettoPride named 18 organizations as recipients of its 2026 Tree Grant program — receiving a total of 1,503 trees to help with issues including the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which destroyed an estimated 1% – 4% of the state’s tree canopy coverage. Municipalities receiving trees include Batesburg-Leesville, Bluffton, Estill, Holly Hill, Neeses, North Charleston and Westminster.