Registration for the Columbia County school system’s prekindergarten program for the 2013-14 school year is being held weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at eight of Columbia County’s elementary schools until March 22.

The public school program is offered at Baker Place, Brookwood, Cedar Ridge, Euchee Creek, Grovetown, North Columbia, North Harlem and South Columbia elementary schools. To find out which school to register, search the school system’s Web site at www.ccboe.net and under the Find Your Bus Stop link.

Gordon Park Speedway will open the dirt-track car racing season Friday and Saturday, March 1-2, with the inaugural Gordon Park 100. The track will be open for practice Thursday, hold a $1,000-to-win pro late model race Friday and a $5,000-to-win pro late model race
Saturday.

A Columbia County has won $28,888 from a Georgia Lottery scratch-off ticket.

Melissa Strickland, 55, played the instant game White Ice 8’s and won the top prize, according to a news release from the Georgia Lottery.

Strickland purchased the ticket at the Sprint Foods store at 3701 Washington Road in Martinez“I scratched it while getting gas,” Strickland said. “I still feel a little shocked.”

With a son currently in high school, Strickland intends to save the prize for use toward his college education.

Once the Christmas season ends, revelers once again will be able to turn their used Christmas trees into fish habitat.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District announced Thursday that real Christmas trees – not artificial ones – will be accepted Dec. 19-Jan. 9, and then will be used for fish habitat in Clarks Hill Lake.

The recycled trees will be placed in various locations throughout the lake.