Folks about town

Karen Luchka Gieselman and Jennifer Sease , recently joined the law firm of Fisher & Phillips LLP.

Connie Ginsberg , former executive director of Family Connection of South Carolina, recently won the Order of the Palmetto. This is the highest award the Governor of South Carolina bestows upon civilians.

Elaine Gillespie , president and owner of The Gillespie Agency, has been elected vice chair of the City of Columbia's Board of Zoning Appeals.

Dr. Walter Edgar has recently had his South Carolina: A History Encyclopedia published by the University of South Carolina Press.

Tonya Bradford of Irmo, Charlotte Bright of Irmo, Tim Brooks of Northeast Columbia, Chaka Daniels of Lexington, Ollie Goodson of Columbia, John Leaphart of Batesburg-Leesville, Angela Long of Northeast Columbia, and Linda Yarborough of Chapin were recognized by the Babcock Center for providing outstanding service to people with lifelong disabilities and the Greater Columbia community.

Mike Targia , CPA; Henry Webster , CPA; Nicki Yoder ; Del Wooten ; Nancy Semenak ; Kimberly Harden ; and Joe Esposito have recently joined the Kirkland, Thomas, Watson & Dyches, LLC accounting and consulting firm.

Jason Carter of Eastover was named the 2006 Conservation Farmer of the Year. Jason began his farming career with his father but has been farming independently for the past 11 years. Jason is a participant in the NRCS USDA Environmental Quality incentive Program (EQIP).

David Atkinson of Lexington, John Tucker of Lexington, Evan Schiltz , of Lexington, John Daniel of Columbia, Wes Gentry of Lexington, José Lagos of Irmo, and Raymond White of Columbia were finalists in this year's Columbia Amateur Golf Tour Championship flight, played at Woodcreek Farms Country Club.

Tushar V. Chikhlikar , an attorney at Nexsen Pruet's Columbia office, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR). Chikhlikar practices in the area of complex civil litigation, with an emphasis on antitrust and unfair business practices.

Haidee Stith , executive director of the South Carolina Women's Business Center, has been elected to the Board of Directors for the Association of Women's Business Centers (AWBC). The AWBC is a national not-for-profit organization representing women's business centers and women business owners.