Opening of Lee County Farmers Market

The opening of the Lee County Farmers Market last Friday June 17, 2016 was a blessing for the citizens of Lee County especially the Seniors. The opening of the Market will allow our seniors to receive vouchers to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables in Lee County. The Farmers Market is located at 220 E. Church Street Bishopville, SC 29010 and will be open Fridays and Saturdays from 8:30 am - 2:00 pm. I know everyone will join us in thanking the Department of Social Services and the State Office for including Lee County in their expansion.

Celebrating Fathers in the Park

Brenda Cooper, Customer Services Representative for SC Works, attended Fathers in the Park, a local event to inform fathers about available services. Brenda shared information about SC Works and the role they play in work readiness and employability enhancements. Thank you to Brenda and everyone who helped make Fathers in the Park a great success! For more information about SC Works or Workforce Development at the COG, contact Brenda Cooper at 803-774-1314.

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Annual Nutrition Training

The Health and Human Services Department along with Senior Catering held Annual Nutrition Training on June 10, 2016. The training was a success!!! We look forward to seeing you all again next year.

Housing and Job Fair

In observance of home ownership month, join us at the South Sumter Resource Center, 337 Manning Ave on Saturday, June 25, 2016 from 10AM - 2PM.

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Hope to see you there!

Staff Spotlight

Your name: Michael Allen Heishman

Tell us a little bit about your personal life. Married for the first (and only) time to my lovely wife Beth in June 2012, moved to Sumter that same month from Richmond, VA.

Favorite Book: The Caine Mutiny by Herman Wouk

Favorite Album: (tie) Amused to Death by Roger Waters and The Division Bell by Pink Floyd

Favorite Movie: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Football Team: Pro, Washington Redskins, College, West Virginia Mountaineers

When did you start working at the COG? November 2015

What is your current position? Operations Manager – SC Works

Sum up your job in one sentence. Provide innovative concepts and a vision for meeting the needs of the region's workforce population.

Have you held any other positions within the COG? No

What is the project, program, activity or event that you are proudest of? The Lee County Job Fair, March 2016

What COG related project, program, activity, or event are you most looking forward to? The Sumter County Job Fair, May 2016

Fair Housing Month

April is Fair Housing Month! Each year, HUD proclaims April as Fair Housing Month to commemorate the anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act in 1968 which guarantees “the right of every person to live where they choose, regardless of their race, color, national origin, sex, religion, familial status, or disability.” The theme for HUD’s Fair Housing Month commemoration this year is “Shared Opportunity in Every Community.”

In celebration of Fair Housing Month 2016, local elementary school students from Manning, South Carolina created some fantastic artwork.





Visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing to learn more

Winner of Startup Weekend Sumter featured in The Item

Daniel Lyles, owner of Daniel's Lawn Care and winner of Startup Weekend Sumter, was featured in The Item on Sunday, April 17th. Lyles competed in Startup Weekend with the Golden Edge, an edger blade with a carbide-tip and zinc coating. The blade can last at least 50 times longer than traditional blades and is coated to prevent corrosion. To read more about Lyles and his Startup Weekend Sumter success, visit GoldenEdge.co or check out the Startup Weekend Facebook page.