Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009

F-16 makes emergency landing in Myrtle Beach

A possible engine malfunction forced an F-16 fighter plane from Shaw Air Force Base to make an emergency landing Monday at Myrtle Beach at about 1 p.m.

The unidentified pilot, who was on a training mission, landed after he "felt something unusual about the jet engine," a Shaw spokesman said. There no injuries, he added.

The pilot opted to land his single-engine, swept-wing fighter at Myrtle Beach because it was the nearest airport, the spokesman added. Myrtle Beach International Airport is about 95 miles east of Sumter, home of Shaw and the 20th Fighter Wing.

The Myrtle Beach airport is a former A-10 fighter base, which the Air Force closed in 1993 and transferred to civilian authority.

- Chuck Crumbo

Council interviews manager candidates

Columbia City Council members interviewed eight city manager candidates Monday and will meet Wednesday in a closed-to-the-public session to decide on finalists for the position.

Candidates were interviewed via videoconferencing to save money, Councilwoman Tameika Isaac Devine said.

Council members have not said when they plan to hire a city manager, a position that has been vacant since January, when former city manager Charles Austin retired. Steve Gantt, senior assistant city manager, has been the interim city manager.

- Adam Beam

Hearing to be held on chicken proposal

Columbia City Council will hold a public hearing at 11 a.m. Wednesday on whether to allow residents to keep hens - but no roosters - in their yards.

The topic is expected to attract supporters and opponents as council members get their first briefing on a proposal to regulate raising chickens at home, which isn't allowed now. They won't vote Wednesday.

Council members are expected to consider a lengthy agenda in they meeting, which begins at 9 a.m. The hearing will be on the third floor of City Hall, 1737 Main St.

- John Monk

Batesburg-Leesville to join partnership

Batesburg-Leesville agreed Monday to join a regional partnership with Saluda County for water and sewer service - including opening a new water plant on Lake Murray and expanding the town sewage treatment plant.

It is an effort to lure more development to an area of small towns and farms on the west edge of the lake.

- Tim Flach

Vaccine shortage delays swine flu shots

Swine flu vaccinations for Batesburg-Leesville students will occur Dec. 1 instead of Wednesday, officials said. The shots were postponed because state health officials didn't have enough vaccine.- Tim Flach

Businesses to accept diaper donations

On Wednesday,, people may drop off packages of disposable diapers at participating businesses as part of BlueChoice Medicaid's Diaper Change campaign.

Participating are:

- All Lizard's Thicket restaurants in Richland and Lexington counties, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

- Kroger at Two Notch and Sparkleberry roads, 2 to 8 p.m.

- Palmetto Health Children's Hospital at 7 Richland Medical Park, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Gotham Bagel Cafe, 1508 Main St., 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

- WLTX-TV's offices on Garners Ferry Road, 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The diapers are distributed through food banks and other organizations. Baby wipes and cash donations for the purchase of diapers also will be accepted.

Visit www.SCDiaperChange.com or call (803) 382-5036.

- Dawn Hinshaw

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