Members of the Lexington Police Department and Lexington County Sheriff’s Department recently received recognition.

On Jan. 25, Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Smith, who was shot after he responded to a Lexington home invasion last September, was awarded the Medal of Valor by the state Sheriff’s Association.

Per a release, “Smith took fire from a man who also shot and killed a woman with whom the man had a prior relationship.”

“Jacob acted bravely and selflessly when he found himself in an intense situation last year,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon is quoted. “Even as his recovery continues, Jacob continues to embody what makes him a great law enforcement officer … the willingness to help others and serve his community.”

Smith was recognized at the association’s winter conference and banquet in Columbia.

Meanwhile, Lexington Police K9 Donny and his handler, K9 Officer Matt Morrison, competed in the 2024 “Leashes and Beaches” Police K9 Skills Competition in North Myrtle Beach Jan. 13, taking part in the event that featured 16 dog and handler teams from Virginia and South Carolina.

Morrison and Dony, the second oldest dog in the field at 8.5 years, took first place in “Hardest Hitting Dog” and second place in “Fastest Dog.”

“To perform at the level he did, speaks volumes of his training and his bond with his handler,” the department enthused in a Facebook post.

Columbia airport seeks input for master plan

The Columbia Metropolitan Airport is seeking local input as it looks toward its future.

The West Columbia transportation hub recently announced that it has “begun work on a multi-year airport master plan project that will ultimately yield an introspective look at the airport’s current facilities, amenities and overall capacity to determine how it can better meet the needs of travelers for the next 20 years.”

As part of that effort, the airport has launched an online survey that you can participate in at surveymonkey.com/r/MCSPQRL through June 30. 

The release announcing the effort to update the airport’s master plan also notes that the master planning effort already collected traveler data through in-person surveys in December and will include more outreach efforts as 2024 progresses.

“Throughout the year, a number of in-terminal survey collections will occur to ensure a diverse spectrum of responses, as well as traveler demographics are reached and considered,” the release states. “Additionally, community and online fact finding will continue throughout the airport master plan process.”

The release adds that the process, guided by engineering firm Mead & Hunt, will also include input from a to-be-formed airport master plan advisory committee made up of Midlands-based professionals from diverse backgrounds.

“Airport Master Plans provide a needed roadmap of sorts for future growth and development,” Mike Gula, the airport’s president/CEO, is quoted. “From this plan, we will be able to determine a comprehensive properties list, coupled with realistic timelines to implement projects that will grow this airport over the next two decades.” 

First Watch brunch chain opens in Harbison

Folks in the Harbison area have a new option for brunch.

First Watch, a “Daytime Cafe” with more than 520 locations in 29 states, is softly open at 275 Harbison Blvd., per the chain’s website, serving customers daily from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The site is accepting names for the Columbia restaurant’s online waitlist, but isn’t yet allowing online orders.

The company enthuses that it is defined by a “chef-driven menu [that] includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with specialties such as the Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation (juiced in-house daily), Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon.”

First Watch serves breakfast, brunch and lunch.

The restaurant takes up residence along a recently renovated stretch of Harbison Center, a shopping center that also features Rooms to Go, Total Wine, 2nd & Charles, The Tile Shop, David’s Bridal and Crunch Fitness, along with a newly constructed Panera Bread location that is currently being finished.