Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Bundt cake company with two CSRA locations celebrates cookie’s 111th birthday

About five weeks before the Titanic sank, America’s favorite sandwich cookie was born. The company now known as Nabisco created the first OREO cookies in New York City on March 6, 1912. To celebrate the brand’s 111th birthday, all Nothing Bundt Cakes locations nationwide held a giveaway on Monday. The first 111 guests in line at 1:11 p.m. (local time) received a free OREO Cookies & Cream Bundtlet. Susan See and her husband, James, own the Evans and Aiken locations. “It was so much fun singing ‘Happy Birthday’ and seeing

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Consumer Stories

Two CSRA creatives partner on possible national business

Many retired business owners spend their days playing golf, but Ed Durant has enjoyed his “retirement” by designing larger-than-life golf tees. Durant, the former owner of The Frame Shoppe and founder of Durant-Durant, LLC, and local artist, Cole Phail, have produced two 30-foot, 2,000-pound tees. In Dec. 2021, their first creation was unveiled at First Tee of Augusta on Damascus Road. That project took 14 months to complete. “It was my idea and my design,” Durant said. On Monday, their second tee, which is exactly the same weight and size

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Consumer Stories

Flights and staff added for Masters Week

Less than 30 days away and the buzz begins. Augusta Regional Airport will be a hub of activity when more than 40,000 patrons pour in for the first major of the year. Both American Airlines and Delta are upping their game by adding direct flights to additional cities. The airlines already offer direct flights to Washington, D.C. and Dallas, from April 2 through April 10, but gearing up for tournament week, American Airlines will provide direct flights to Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York (LaGuardia), Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix,

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Consumer Stories

Local business owners plan community health fair

Today is your last day to sign up to be a vendor at a health fair created by two local business owners. Kimberly Beasley, the owner of Curvitude Boutique, which sells women’s athletic wear, and Jamilah Dukes, owner of The S.O.U.L Market, which offers a variety of wellness services, including yoga classes, have planned the first-ever Columbia County Health, Wellness, & Fitness Expo. The free event will be held on Saturday, March 25, from 12 noon to 6 p.m. at the Liberty Park Community Center located at 1040 Newmantown Road

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Consumer Stories

Local hospital makes list for best bariatric surgery

Need to lose weight? Need to exercise more? Those may sound like New Year’s resolutions, but the fact is many of us fall into that category and most are in the southeast, including Georgia and South Carolina. More than 42 percent of adults in the United States are currently obese, while nearly three-quarters are overweight, according to the CDC. Some who are obese turn to bariatric surgery which involves making changes to your digestive system to help you lose weight when diet and exercise haven’t worked. The good news is

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Consumer Stories

Businesses lay groundwork for future hires at career expo

More than 30 CSRA businesses will be looking for future employees at this week’s Columbia County Career & College Expo. Alison Couch is one of them. She owns Ignite Accounting & Business Advisors in Harlem and is currently looking for staff accountants. Couch also wants to talk to local high school and college students interested in pursuing careers in accounting. The third annual Career & College Expo on Thursday, March 9, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown should provide an opportunity for

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Consumer Stories

Columbia County hangs out the “Help Wanted” sign

Columbia County is looking for employees for more than a dozen county offices and departments. To help fill the vacancies, the county is holding a job fair on Monday, March 13. Representatives will be on hand to talk with people interested in any of the skilled-trade and professional positions and answer questions. The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office will be among the departments available to talk with interested applicants. “We’re looking for 911 dispatchers, Patrol Deputies, and Deputy Jailers,” said Major Steve Morris. “Depending on the position applied for, applicants must

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Consumer Stories

Local school helps curb nursing shortage with new program

South Carolina is among five states projected to have the biggest nursing shortage in the U.S. by 2030 and will need more than 10,000 new nurses to fill the gap. As ABD has reported, Aiken Regional is offering $25,000 sign-on bonuses for qualified nurses. Now, Aiken Tech School of Nursing will take a step to address the demand for nurses in the CSRA by offering evening classes. The new program creates another path for licensed practical nurses (LPN) to become registered nurses (RN). Aiken Tech’s nursing school has seen success

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Consumer Stories

Evans nutrition business to celebrate grand opening

Michelle Lemmons opened her Columbia County nutrition business in July 2022, but she’s celebrating the grand opening of that business this weekend. Lemmons owns The Vibe Nutrition located at 4446 Washington Road, Suite 6, near Shane’s Rib Shack in Evans. The business offers a variety of meal replacement shakes, fat-burning teas, protein coffees, and workout supplements. Her shake flavors include salted caramel, Almond Joy, and Captain Crunch, and all contain protein, vitamins, minerals, and greens. The grand opening will be held Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and include

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B2B Stories

New military-friendly coffee shop to open in May

Starbucks has a specific reason for bringing a new store to Martinez near Fort Gordon, according to a company spokesperson. Last week, ABD ran a story about the location coming to 421 South Belair Road next to Popeyes and has learned more details from Starbucks about that location. The company plans to open it on Friday, May 5. “The new location will employ approximately 30 partners (employees) and will be a Military Family Store,” the spokesperson said. “These stores are located near major military bases and are designed to hire

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