Archive for year: 2023

CAPES For Kids is an annual 5K/10K & Fun Run, held in honor of a 3-year old Carver Elementary School student, who lost her life due to physical abuse and neglect in 2011. Formerly known as the Carver C.A.P. Run, this event strives to honor her life, and the lives of children like her, while also raising awareness and support for victims of child abuse in our local community. Proceeds benefit the mission of the CARE House of the Pee Dee in promoting help, hope and healing for child abuse victim and their families.

This family-friendly event includes activities for children such as inflatables, a superhero themed costume contest and more!

For more information, click here.

Downtown Florence has been selected as a semifinalist for the Great American Main Street Award from Main Street America for the second consecutive year!

Downtown Florence is one of eight organizations from across the country in the running for this prestigious award, which recognizes communities for their excellence in transforming downtown districts. The three award winners will be announced on March 27, 2023 at the National Main Street Conference in Boston, MA.

For more information about the award, you can read the press release here.

Carter Lumber, a leading building materials supplier, announced plans on Thursday, March 9th to expand its South Carolina footprint with new operations in Florence County. The company’s $26 million investment will create 80 new jobs.

Headquartered in Kent, Ohio, Carter Lumber is a privately held, family-owned company with more than 170 locations across the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions. In addition to lumber, the company sells a broad range of building supplies including decking, doors, kitchens, siding and windows. Carter Lumber is the fourth largest professionally focused lumber and building materials supplier in the nation.

With existing operations in Easley and Rock Hill, this will mark the company’s third South Carolina location and first facility in Florence County. Located at 305 West Myrtle Beach Highway in Johnsonville, Carter Lumber’s plans include renovating a 120,000-square-foot facility in Florence County to manufacture roof and floor trusses along with hanging interior door units. This location will also serve as a millwork warehouse for stock mouldings, and the products from the Florence County facility will be delivered to residential, commercial and multi-family job sites.

Operations are expected to be online by the third quarter of 2023. Individuals interested in joining the Carter Lumber team should visit the company’s careers page. https://www.carterlumber.com/careers

The Junior Leadership Florence County Class enjoyed a fantastic day on Tuesday, March 7th in Columbia for the annual State Government Session and South Carolina 4-H Youth Development Legislative Day at the State House.

The class of Florence County high school sophomores and juniors met with Governor Henry McMaster, Mr. Cody Simpson, Governor’s Special Assistant and founding advisor for Junior Leadership Florence County, the Florence County Legislative Delegation (Senator Mike Reichenbach, Representative Phillip Lowe, Representative Jay Jordan, and Representative Terry Alexander).

The Jr. Leadership Program is a partnership with the Florence Chamber of Commerce, Francis Marion University and Florence County 4-H.

A special thanks to the South Carolina 4-H Pinckney Leadership Program for inviting us to a beautiful luncheon and special thanks JLFC Advisory Board Members, Mrs. Celia Urquhart, Pee Dee Regional Director for U.S. Senator Lindsay Graham, Superintendent, Dr. Neal Vincent, Florence County School District Two and Mr. Reace Shird, 4-H Volunteer/Florence School District Two for their help chaperoning the trip.

If you know of any rising Florence County high school sophomore or junior interested in participating in next year’s program, please encourage them to apply at https://www.jrleadershipflorencecounty.com or you can contact your high school guidance counselor. You may also call the Florence Chamber of Commerce at 843-665-0515 to get more information. The deadline has been extended to March 31st.

The Florence County Museum will present two signature exhibitions about Gen. Francis Marion in conjunction with South Carolina’s recognition of the American Revolutionary War Sestercentennial.

Part of the exhibition focuses on important 19th century American artworks depicting Marion and his militia during the Revolutionary War, and how these artworks contributed to the legend that surrounded Marion in the early decades of American Independence.

“It is the first exhibition of its kind,” said museum curator Stephen W. Motte.

Artworks will include the famous painting Marion Inviting a British Officer to Share His Meal, by South Carolina artist John Blake White, on loan to the exhibition from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Also on loan to the exhibit is Marion Crossing the Pedee, by American painter William T. Ranney. This is the largest of Francis Marion history paintings created during the 19th century, and is on loan from the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, Texas.

To ready the full story, click here.