Ledger’s new Chapin office part of effort to expand its reach into northern Lexington County
Chapin, SC (James Bowers) - In the summer of 2014,retired firefighter turned entrepreneur Paul Kirby, formed a plan to put the local back in the local news and quickly put that news into the hands of the citizens of Lexington County. He also wanted to do this free of the spin and agenda that had become the normal at so many major media outlets. He wanted to do news, not “fake” news, while shedding a positive light on all the wonderful things going on in Lexington County. At that time in his life, what was then known as the South~West Lexington Ledger was born in the southern end of the county. Since that fateful moment three years ago, Kirby’s publication has expanded from just himself and a laptop in his living room to two fully functioning offices and a small band of paid and volunteer staffers aiding him in his mission to revive positive, objective, local journalism.
After a re-brand to The Lexington Ledger in September of 2016 that dropped the south west from the name, the newest office, located at 113-F Columbia Avenue in Chapin, was officially opened with the assistance of the Chapin Area Chamber of Commerce Thursday evening. A small ribbon cutting ceremony was held to commemorate that occasion.
Kirby and his staff began using the facility in October as part of his effort to expand the Ledger’s reach in the Lexington County regions north of Lake Murray. These areas include the prosperous communities of Irmo, Chapin, and the Harbison commercial corridor.
The ceremony Thursday was a proud and auspicious moment for the young Ledger brand. There was a sizeable attendance, including a host of local officials, citizens, business associates, and public safety personnel.
The event officially started with the presentation of the colors by the award-winning Chapin High School Navy JROTC unit, a fitting gesture given the fact that the event was held on December 7th, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. This is a day when our US Navy, all our nation’s armed forces, and the country as a whole sacrificed so much so that we could live free. As the cadets stood stock-still, the National Anthem was sung by Ms. Savannah Bramlett, an 11-year-old student at Chapin Intermediate School. This was followed by the invocation given by Mr. Alex Kirby, youth leadership intern at Radius Church White Knoll, and the nephew of The Ledger’s founder Paul Kirby
State Representative Chip Huggins, SC Senator Ronnie Cromer, Eleventh Circuit Solicitor Rick Hubbard, Deputy Solicitor Chris Samellas, Lexington County Council Chair Todd Cullum, a representative of Congressman Joe Wilson’s office, and the mayors of both Irmo and Chapin were among the members of the political community present at the event. Public Safety officials present included Bill Ziegler, the retired chief of the Chapin Fire Department, his son Seth Ziegler, the current chief of the Chapin Police Department with some of his staff, Chapin’s outgoing Mayor Skip Wilson, Chapin Mayor Elect David Knight, Irmo’s Mayor Hardy King, Irmo Fire District Chief Mike Sonefeld, and Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon along with a large contingent of his staff. The official portion of the program featured remarks from Huggins, Chairman Cullum, Chapin Mayor Skip Wilson, and the incoming chair of the Greater Chapin Area Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Nicholle Burroughs.
When Kirby took the mic, he thanked his family and staff for their support over the Ledger’s three year journey and expressed his excitement over the organization’s future. It was a watershed moment for a man who overcame serious health issues to found one of the fastest-growing grassroots media companies in the Midlands.
The Lexington Ledger aims to continue its growth on the north side of Lake Murray and continue to strengthen its offering of impartial, positive news. Its main goal is to become the same go-to source for local news and information that it has become in Lexington County’s southern reaches such as Red Bank, Pelion, and Swansea countywide.
To find The Lexington Ledger community news on the internet, go to thelexingtonledger.com or follow them on social media at facebook.com/swlexledger. You can reach Kirby and his staff by e-mail at thelexingtonledger@gmail.com or by telephone at (803) 587-3144.
