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HEATH SPRINGS – Are there gangs in the southern part of Lancaster County?

Law officials say yes and want residents to be more aware of their presence.

A gang awareness seminar will be held Tuesday at Heath Springs Elementary School. The program, facilitated by investigator Fred Thompson of the Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, begins at 6:30 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria. It’s free and open to the public.

Tyrique Benson considers the Adopt A Leader house a second school as well as a home away from home.

The Erwin Elementary School fourth-grader goes to the house nearly every day after school for mentoring and extra help with his homework. He would come every day if he could.

“It’s like a family,” he said. “When I come here, I feel welcomed.”

Benson is one of 60 area students who participate in Adopt A Leader, which was recently recognized by a statewide group for its work with youth in the local community.

The Lancaster County Water and Sewer District water treatment plant violated the amount of a contaminate in the county’s drinking water late last year.

The district is notifying residents now through advertising and on their monthly bills about a higher than normal level of trihalomethanes found in the county’s drinking water in September, said Mike Bailes, water treatment plant operator.

INDIAN LAND - You may not see a lot of heavy equipment near the U.S. 521 entrance of Edenmoor, but work continues at the huge residential community, and developers say an EMS station and community park will be complete by August.

The first phase of homebuilding at Edenmoor continues. Sean Calloway, development manager for GS Carolina, the company developing Edenmoor, said 17 lots are under contract. When Phase 1 is finished, there will be 399 homes at Edenmoor, which will eventually have 2,000 homes.