The following are highlights from Richland County Government in December:

•Richland County filled three key positions: Kevin Bronson was hired as the Assistant County Administrator for Public Safety, Jeffrey Ruble as the Economic Development Director and Liz McDonald was named County Assessor.

•Richland County debuted its new guidebook for residents, visitors and newcomers. About Richland: An Amazingly Cool County features large, colorful images and maps and information about the County’s history, annual events, government, shopping, entertainment, schools, military, economy, recreation and more. The guidebook can be viewed online at www.rcgov.us.

• The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District commemorated Arbor Day with a tree planting and a student assembly at Catawba Trail Elementary School that focused on the importance of conservation and the environment.

•Richland County Council Chairman Torrey Rush joined 24 of the nation’s most innovative and influential elected state, county, local and tribal officials at a three-day policy roundtable in Washington, D.C. for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.

•At the Keep the Midlands Beautiful annual awards gala, Richland County Councilman Seth Rose was named the 2015 Elected Green Official Award; Randall Castleberry, a worker at Richland County’s C&D Landfill Drop-off Center, was presented the Green Sustainability Leadership Award; and Sgt. Kelvin Griffin of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was named the Green Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

•Richland County’s Human Resources Department was presented a special Well-Being Award by Cigna, an international health service company and the County's health insurance provider, for its commitment to improving the health and wellness of employees through a variety of workplace programs.

•Richland County Solid Waste & Recycling was recognized by SC Department of Transportation  contractor Crowder Gulf for its assistance in gathering flood-related debris.

•The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District (RSWCD) distributed $250 mini-grants to five local schools to help fund their environmental projects, such as school gardens and environmental science fairs.  RSWCD also selected 28 winning entries from kindergarten to 12th grade students in the 2015 Arbor Day Youth Contests.

•Richland County unveiled its colorful new logo that represents both the urban and rural aspects of the County. The logo, which will be used for marketing County-sponsored events and projects, complements the official County seal that also features the image of the State House.

•The Richland County Neighborhood Council and City of Columbia Council of Neighborhoods held a joint holiday drop-in for the members of the various volunteer community groups that provide a link between neighborhoods and local government resources.