Richland County Month in Review: August

The following are highlights from Richland County Government in August:

• Richland County’s IT Department was presented with two prominent awards by Government Management Information Sciences (GMIS), an association of worldwide government IT leaders. Senior Application Support Analyst Joe Hallbick was presented with the Outstanding Professional of the Year award for his skills and expertise in assisting the county, and the state, in the implementation of a new software program. Applications Manager Mike Prince accepted the G2 Government-to-Citizen Award on behalf of a team of IT employees who created the County’s QR Code Tax Payments project.

• Richland County celebrated National Aviation Week Aug. 17-23 to recognize the importance of general aviation as well as “first flight” pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright’s connection to the County’s Jim Hamilton – L.B. Owens Airport, the Curtiss-Wright Hangar.  National Aviation Week coincides each year with the birthday of Orville Wright on Aug. 19.

• Richland County Council celebrated the Dutch Fork High School football team for its 2013 state championship as the new season begins. Councilman Bill Malinowski, District 1, attended practice and presented the team with a resolution commemorating the team’s 4A championship. Coach Tom Knotts and principal Dr. Greg Owings accepted the signed resolution from Malinowski and thanked him for recognizing the 2013 team and wishing the 2014 team good luck.

• Richland County Court Appointed Special Advocates (RC CASA) held an “I Have a Dream” rally on Aug. 28 – the 51^st anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech. More than 200 people attended the event to show support for Richland County’s youth by remembering Dr. King’s works of advocacy and justice. Participants marched to the Statehouse where Gov. Nikki Haley commended RC CASA for its mission to help abused and neglected children in Richland County find safe, permanent homes.

• Jim Hamilton and Robert Sumwalt, who have both played important roles at the County’s Jim Hamilton – L.B. Owens Airport, shared challenge coins to show appreciation and support of each other’s contributions to aviation. Prior to being presidentially appointed as vice chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Sumwalt served as the first chairman of the Richland County Airport Commission. Jim Hamilton is the longtime, recently-retired fixed base operator and former manager of the airport that now bears his name.