June 18, 2013 | 1:25 am

12 - 6:11pm

Just in time for Christmas, about 275 Columbia County disabled veterans should receive a little extra cash as refunds for property tax overpayments finally are ready.

“I am in the process of signing disabled veterans’ checks,” said Columbia County Tax Commissioner Kay Allen. “They are going in the mail Monday.”

That’s the first batch. About another 75 still need more research, or her office can’t find the veteran listed, she said.

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Evans Fitness Club opens to crowd, fanfare 12/12/12 - 2:23pm

The new Evans Fitness Club opened Wednesday to a hubbub of activity as members checked out the new equipment, and visitors took tours and signed up for workouts.

The area’s newest fitness facility, located on a 31-acre site in Marshall Square in Evans, held a ribbon-cutting with the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce at 11 a.m. and officially opened its doors 12:12 p.m.

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First Christmas re-enacted at community events 12/12/12 - 4:01pm

As Christmas approaches, celebrations of the life of Christ are scheduled for three Columbia County churches this week.

• The 10th annual Hayride Through the Life of Christ is open 7-9 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 13-16 at the Columbia County Merchants Association Fairgrounds on Columbia Road.

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Jaffe, former 'News-Times' editor, pioneered law firm marketing 12/11/12 - 4:56pm

Jay M. Jaffe, of Eagle, Colo., a former publisher of The Columbia News, died Nov. 21 of complications following surgery,

Jaffe, 69, was the founder and CEO of Jaffe PR, a public relations firm specializing in services to business law firms, according to his obituary in the Vail (Colo.) Daily.

Funeral services for Jaffe were held Sunday at Chicago Jewish Funerals in Buffalo Grove., Ill., with interment in Shalom Memorial Park.

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Gun range to be dedicated to Lt. Gen. Robert Gray 12/11/12 - 12:09pm

FORT GORDON, GA – Fort Gordon will dedicate its new machine gun range on Thursday, Dec. 13, in memory of a former commanding general and Columbia County resident, the late Lt. Gen. Robert E. Gray.

At the ceremony, set for 8 a.m. at Freedom Park, installation leaders will unveil a plaque dedicating the Lt. Gen. Robert E. Gray Multi-Purpose Machine Gun Range. Signal Center of Excellence and Fort Gordon Commanding General Maj. Gen. LaWarren Patterson will officiate, according to a news release from the facility.

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Bikes still wanted for Santa Wheels program 12/10/12 - 5:43pm

The Santa Wheels program is still looking for a few good bikes.

The program, operated by Master Buick GMC in Martinez and Goodwill Industries, collects donated bicycles and refurbishes them for children at Christmas. Officials with the program this year plan to donate more than 150 bikes to area children at a “bike rodeo” at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13, at Master Buick GMC, according to an announcement from Goodwill Director of Communications Susan Everitt.

Donations of bicycles for this year’s program will be accepted until noon Thursday, Everitt said.

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Evans park to become winter wonderland 12/13/12 - 12:23pm

With chances of seeing a white Christmas in Columbia County fairly low, a new festival will bring the white stuff to the area a week ahead of schedule.

A section of Evans Towne Center Park will be transformed into a winter wonderland Sunday, Dec. 16, during the inaugural Columbia County Snow Festival.

“It’s the first year of an event that we plan on doing annually,” said local promoter Joe Mullins. “We’re going to grow it into hopefully a week-long festival.”

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Churches offer Christmas nativities 12/10/12 - 2:22pm

Three churches will present tours and nativity scenes this week to celebrate the birth and life of Jesus.

The 10th annual Hayride Through the Life of Christ is open 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 13,through Dec. 16 at the Columbia County Merchants Association Fairgrounds on Columbia Road.

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Academy graduates 12/09/12 - 2:23am

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Tax refunds owed to disabled veterans stalled 12/07/12 - 12:25pm

Pete Schiffbauer is waiting on his check.

Along with about 345 or so other disabled Columbia County veterans owed a property tax refund, he’ll have to wait at least a couple more weeks, says Tax Commissioner Kay Allen.

“We have run into all kinds of problems,” Allen said. “The process itself is very cumbersome.”

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