Governor Henry McMaster and other prominent officials marked the recent completion of coal tar removal from the bed of Congaree River Nov. 13.

Per a release, the $20 million project, to remove the toxic, tar-like material discovered in 2010 and left behind by a former manufactured gas plant that operated along the river roughly a century ago.

During the event Dominion Energy South Carolina President Keller Kissam, Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann and McMaster all spoke.

“It’s easy to mess something up but it’s hard to clean it up,” McMaster said. “Here we are cleaning something up that was probably done inadvertently, without thinking, everything went into the river way back then because water was water, the solution to pollution is dilution, I think they used to say.”

“That's an important lesson and we have to be sure now that everything we’re doing is not messing something up so that somebody is going to have to clean it up later,” he added.

According to Kissam, 38,500 tons of sediment was removed from two coffer dam sites that were set up across the river from West Columbia and Cayce, and subsequently taken to landfills, calling this a remarkable feat in the urban setting.

He added that the work also removed 2.5 tons of trash from the river, including litter, debris, tires and more.

Throughout the project, multiple artifacts were found, including bomb shells and other weapon memorabilia. Kissam said there was one explosive taken to Shaw Air Force Base that might have been live, though he never heard for sure.

The president mentioned that the biggest challenge with the project was the flowing river, adding that it was the only project like in the nation because they were unable to use sheet piles to block the river due the granite in the ground. He also said the coffer dams only overflowed once during two years of construction.

Now that the project has been completed ahead of schedule, cities around the river can continue their push for more pedestrian connectivity.

The completion of the coal tar removal was an obstacle in the City of Columbia finally turning to reconnect the Columbia Canal riverwalk to the State Museum and Gervais Street Bridge, a pedestrian connection that is a key component in ongoing efforts to create a unified riverside greenway stretch from Lake Murray to downtown Columbia and on to West Columbia and Cayce.

Rickenmann said the project will allow residents and visitors alike to put on their shoes and visit the dam, the zoo, West Columbia, Cayce, and even the downtown Bull Street District, where they catch a game at Segra Park.

“This river front is really the catalyst for Columbia,” he offered.

FBI completes new field office, located in Lexington

The FBI’s new building, located at 222 Caughman Farm Lane in Lexington, has officially been completed. 

The agency’s Columbia Field Office previously operated out of three buildings spread across the area. The new facility broke ground in October 2020, with original hopes to begin occupancy in early 2023.

Kevin Wheeler, public affairs specialist for the agency, stated that though they are now under one roof, the agency still has satellite offices in other parts of the state.

Wheeler previously told the Chronicle that a majority of the workforce, including special agents, intelligence analysts and professional staff, will be housed at the new location. He said he was unable to disclose a specific number due to security concerns, though he mentioned it’s a benefit to have one large space.

“We are thrilled to begin a new chapter in this facility,” Wheeler said. “This field office represents a significant investment in the future of our agency and our ability to protect and serve the American people.”

“It is a tangible representation of our commitment to adapt and evolve in the face of ever-changing threats,” he added.

Irmo chef wins second at international competition

An Irmo chef and three others fared well at a recent international competition.

The team fielded by regional tourism board Capital City/Lake Murray Country, which included Chris Williams, chef/owner of Roy’s Grille, all landed in the top 10 of their respective categories at the World Food championships, which took place Nov. 8-12 in Dallas, Texas.

Williams, who competed in the sandwich category for a second-straight year, placed second, improving on last year’s fifth-place finish.

“It was yet again an honor to represent myself, my company, and Capital City/Lake Murray Country at the World Food Championships,” Williams is quoted in a release. “To be so close to victory and not win has really motivated me to go harder than ever next year! I will take home #1!”

The chefs on the team included Maegan Horton, executive chef at Blue Marlin, who took fourth place in seafood,  and Mike Ellis, director of culinary services for Smoked, The Grand, The Main Course, Good Life Cafe, The Players Club and Peak Drift Brewing, who placed eighth in the chef category.