Florence city manager to speak at chamber breakfast

/in , , /by

Staff Reports

Florence City Manager Drew Griffin will be the speaker on Feb. 22 at a Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce breakfast.
This Winter Legislative Breakfast, an informational community gathering, will start at 7:45 a.m. at the Florence Center. Doors will open at 7:30 a.m. The program will close by 9 a.m.

“We get questions daily about city and county happenings,” said Mike Miller, president of the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. “Sometimes, we find ourselves reaching out to city or county representatives for answers.

“Lately, with all the area development and growth, we are answering so many questions it seems logical to have city leaders offer more compete details. People want to know, and this is the perfect forum to share such information. We would like to do the same with the county soon.”

A Q&A session will be held after Griffin’s presentation. Questions will be accepted at the program, or questions can be sent in advance to the chamber, which will have Griffin address them during the program. Email questions to info@flochamber.com.

To register, click here.

To read the full article on SC Now, click here.

Magnet school in Florence accepting applications

/in , , /by

Carver Elementary School is accepting applications for the STEAM magnet program 2019-20 school year from now until Feb. 15.

Students from kindergarten to fourth grades can apply to the program even if students are not zoned for Carver Elementary. Once students are accepted into the program, they do not have to reapply for the program each year.

Parents can apply online through the Carver Elementary website here.

Calandra Brisbone, the STEM magnet coach for Carver Elementary, said the STEAM magnet program applies project-based learning and STEAM curriculum to all areas of education. She also said the school is moving more toward a blended model for learning.

Read the article on SC Now here.

United Way of Florence Holds Ribbon Cutting After Joining Chamber

/in , , , /by

by Ardie Arvidson

FLORENCE, S.C. – The United Way of Florence held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday celebrating its new membership with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce.

Interim United Way President Keven Russell said he felt it was important for the nonprofit organization to support the community that it serves.

“It is a great community of leaders, and we want to be a part of it,” he said.

The United Way of Florence partners with 17 agencies that receive funding through its annual campaign. Their goal is to raise $1.2 million. Russell said they are about 40 to 50 percent of their goal.
The funds go toward daily operations, and the United Way tries to get as much as possible into the hands of the agencies it partners with, said Rachel Baggett, director of marketing and initiatives. The United Way funds 24 programs, she said.

The 2018-19 United Way partnering agencies are American Red Cross, Eastern S.C. Chapter; Boys & Girls Clubs of the Pee Dee Area; CARE House of the Pee Dee; The Chrysalis Center of Circle Park; Civil Air Patrol; Florence Area Literacy Council; Florence County Disabilities & Special Needs; Florence Family YMCA; Girl Scouts of Eastern South Carolina; Lighthouse Ministries; Mercy Medicine Free Clinic; Pee Dee Area Council Boy Scouts of America; Pee Dee Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Assault; Pee Dee Speech & Hearing Center; The Salvation Army; Senior Citizens Association of Florence County; and Youth Mentors of the Pee Dee.

The United Way of Florence has a staff of four. They are Russell; Baggett; Wendy Bird, vice president of campaigns; and Farris Lupo, operations, finance and volunteer director.

Russell retired to South Carolina after 20 years with NASA and 20 years with GE. He joined the United Way Board of Directors as campaign leader before assuming the duties of president.

He said he works with great people and has the pleasure of helping people every day.

Read the full article here.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

/in , , /by

by Shamira McCray

FLORENCE, S.C. – South Carolina Rep. Carl L. Anderson encouraged people Thursday evening to keep Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy alive. And in order to do that, people must be reminded of the difference King made for all people, he said.

Anderson spoke Thursday at the 21st annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at Francis Marion University. The celebration was co-sponsored by the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce. Anderson represents House District 103 in George, Horry and Williamsburg counties.

In his keynote address, Anderson spoke about the current challenges people are being faced with as a result of a “triple revolution taking place in the world today.”

“First, we are challenged to develop a world perspective,” Anderson said. “No individual can live alone. No nation can live alone. And anyone that feels that he can live alone is sleeping through a revolution.”
Anderson said people must learn to live together as brothers and sisters, or “we will all perish together as fools.”

Second, people are challenged to eradicate the last vestige of racial injustice from the nation.

“I must say this evening, that racial injustice is still the black man’s burden and the white man’s shame,” Anderson said. “It is an unhappy truth that racism is a way of life for the vast majority of white Americans, spoken and unspoken, acknowledged and denied.”

He said he can see nothing more urgent than for Americans to work passionately and unrelentingly to get rid of racism.

Poverty was another one of the challenges highlighted by Anderson.

To keep King’s legacy alive, Anderson challenged those who attended Thursday’s ceremony to keep fighting for justice, equal and better pay, health care and safety for all people.

“Black lives matter, but I’m here tonight to tell you that all lives matter,” Anderson said. “And if you believe that all lives matter, be informed of the candidates running (for) political offices. Then what do I do? Then vote.”

Anderson was joined on the program’s lineup by the Young Gifted and Blessed Gospel Choir and other Francis Marion University student performers.

Les Echols, director of community and minority enterprise for the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, gave closing remarks at the celebration.

“We talked about the dream and MLK wanting people to live the dream,” Echols said. “And before I leave here, I’m going to drop off, on behalf of the sponsors and the greater Florence Chamber of Commerce, a check for $1,000 for the Francis Marion University Education Foundation annual fund so that someone else, some lucky men and women, can also be able and privileged to live the dream.”

Read the full article here.

Mumford elected to lead Florence County Council

/in , , /by

by Matthew Christian

FLORENCE, S.C. – The Rev. Waymon Mumford, a former police chief for the city of Florence, was elected chairman of the Florence County Council on Thursday.
“I’m honored to be able to serve as chair,” Mumford said. “This is my 24th year on the council and the Lord has given me the opportunity to serve in this prestigious position. I don’t take it lightly. I’m just a servant. What I can do for the citizens of Florence County, that’s what I’m going to do.”
Mumford said he had previously unofficially served for two or three months as chairman when K.G. “Rusty” Smith transitioned from the council into the role of county administrator.

Mumford was nominated by Councilman James Schofield. The nomination received multiple seconds and was approved unanimously.
Outgoing Chairman Kent Caudle said it was tradition for the chairman of the council to serve a two-year term before turning the reins over to another council member. He added that since he had been on the council, Schofield and Roger Poston had served two-year terms in the role.
Caudle was also thanked by multiple members of the council for his service as chairman.

Vice Chairman Willard Dorriety was re-elected to his position by the council upon the motion of Alphonso “Al” Bradley and a second by Councilman Kent Caudle. Dorriety’s election was also unanimous.
Dorriety said he was honored to be re-elected vice chairman.

Councilman Mitchell Kirby was elected to the position of secretary/chaplain of the council.
“It’s an honor,” Kirby said. “It’s a great honor to have the other councilmen pick me as secretary/chaplain because it means a lot. We take pride in what we do up here and to have them feel that way about you really gives you a good feeling.”

Bradley made the motion to nominate Kirby. The motion was seconded by Mumford. The council also elected Kirby unanimously.

Thursday’s meeting also featured the swearing in by Judge Michael Nettles of the county council members re-elected in November. Mumford, Bradley, Schofield, Jason Springs, and H. Steven DeBerry IV did not face opposition in the election.

Read the full article here.

New $10 million nursing facility coming to Florence

/in , , /by

By: Nia Watson

FLORENCE, SC (WMBF) – The city of Florence has approved a Conditional Grant Development Agreement with the company, Fundamental Healthcare, to build a $10 million skilled nursing facility.

The new 120 to140 bed facility will sit on the old Young Pecan plant site near the Seminar Brewery on West Lucas Street along Highway 52.

“I think it’s a very productive agreement for both parties,” Mayor Stephen Wukela said.

The new nursing home will replace the current nursing home on Sumter Street managed by Faith Healthcare.

The agreement states the company bought the land from the city for $350,000 less than it would cost the city to clear out the property.

It also states the facility is anticipated to create “numerous well-paying service jobs”.

“Removing the blight of the old Young Pecan property and replacing that with a new 10 million dollar nursing facility I think is excellent and it fits into the healthcare focus industry in this community,” Wukela said.

Wukela said the development also falls in line with the city’s downtown revitalization plan as the location is one of the entrance corridors to the downtown area.

The agreement states the project “is of great importance to the redevelopment of the U.S. Highway 52 corridor to the Downtown Florence area in that it represents a large private investment in the area and involves the type project that should have a very significant impact on the value of and the redevelopment of surrounding properties in the corridor. These will be significant direct, indirect and induced economic impact resulting from the project.”

The company also agreed to give the city the current building to re-purpose for their neighborhood redevelopment plan for the area. Wukela said the current building that’s an eyesore to the Sumter Street neighborhood will be torn down once the new facility is complete.

“Removing that structure and the brightness associated with it is something we’re very interested in even aside from the 10 million dollar nursing facility,” he said.

Construction is expected to begin no later than July of 2020.

Copyright 2019 WMBF. All rights reserved.

www.wmbfnews.com/2019/01/17/new-million-nursing-facility-coming-florence/?fbclid=IwAR080XX8YFKAc9p4WGkESSx4Ly7FpsyjKZsO7CcLaYe6J_RTixQk1jE09-c

Honda of Timmonsville launches mass production line of side-by-side

/in , , /by

By: Tonya Brown

TIMMONSVILLE, S.C. (WPDE) — Honda of South Carolina in Timmonsville announced Wednesday the start of a mass production of the all new Talon sport side-by-side.

A news release says the Talon highlights the skill and dedication of the engineers at Honda R&D Americas, Inc. in Ohio, who developed the Honda Talon and the experienced workforce who build it at Honda of South Carolina Manufacturing.

“The Talon is a truly stand out side-by-side vehicle and I’m proud that associates at Honda of South Carolina are part of its development as well as its future,” said Chuck Boderman, vice president of Powersports division of American Honda. “The sport side-by-side market is showing significant growth and it’s exciting to have the new Honda Talon for our dealers and our customers.”

Honda of South Carolina has been based in Timmonsville for the past 20 years.

The plant opened in Timmonsville on July 1, 1998, and began production of the four-wheeled Honda FourTrax ATV model line.

In 2000, operations expanded to add engine production to the plant.

The plant’s production line has the capacity to manufacture a quarter-of-a-million vehicles and 310,000 engines per year, according to the company.

Honda operates nine manufacturing facilities in the US.

The company is one of the largest employers in Florence County with 960 workers.

Honda of South Carolina expanded in 2014 with production of the Honda Pioneer at the plant. That $27 million expansion created 65 new jobs, according to Honda officials.

In 2018, Honda of South Carolina completes a $45 million expansion project that added 250 new jobs and a 115,000 square-feet of space.

Honda employs 1,000 associates at its Timmonsville plant.

The 947,000 square-foot facility represents a $400 million in investment to Florence County.

The team is real plant currently has the annual capacity to manufacture 100,000 Honda ATVs and 100,000 side-by-sides for North American and global markets.

https://wpde.com/news/local/honda-of-timmonsville-launches-mass-production-line-of-side-by-side?fbclid=IwAR3coVmIrYkRDkBbx9dTTxn7UpmwLH5aVb5HTkxMsRHS9Q6qhcKrgq8f9t8

Ground broken for community centers at two Florence parks

/in , , /by

By: Matthew Christian

FLORENCE, S.C. – Betty Gregg had a simple message for those looking to cause trouble in the soon-to-be revamped Dr. Iola Jones Park: Stay out of the park.

Gregg spoke at a ceremony Tuesday afternoon to break ground on the construction of community center at the park. She has campaigned for several years to get the center.

“We are going to take care of this park,” Gregg said. “A lot of people probably think that we are not, but we [are] going to take care of this park.”

She said she and others are going to make sure the park is well taken care of, scoffing at the notion that there will be “all kinds of stuff happening in this park.”

“It’s not going to happen,” she said. “This park is not going down.”

She added that those attempting to do something illegal in the park would receive a visit from the Florence Police Department. She said the city has given too much money for the park to not be taken care of.

“If you don’t want to be a part of this community center, don’t come on the park,” Gregg said. “That’s all I got to say.”

Gregg also said the community center was needed because sometimes residents in north Florence don’t have the ability to travel between their homes and other parks with community centers, such as Northwest Park.

A member of the youth community, Taon Murray, also spoke at the ceremony along with Florence City Councilwoman Pat Gibson-Hye Moore, Roger Malfatti of the city’s parks commission and Florence Mayor Stephen J. Wukela.

The groundbreaking at Dr. Iola Jones Park was the second of two groundbreakings Tuesday afternoon in Florence. The city also broke ground on a community center to be constructed at Maple Park near downtown.

Bonnette said she hoped the park would restore the vitality of the Maple Park neighborhood in a way similar to the revitalization of the city’s downtown.

Florence City Councilwoman Teresa Myers Ervin, Wukela and Malfatti also spoke at that groundbreaking.

The community centers are expected to be similar in size to the existing community centers at Levy and Northwest Parks.

The Dr. Iola Jones Park and Maple Park community centers will each consist of approximately 4,480 square feet and include a large youth activity space, youth lounge, computer room, office space, restrooms and storage space. Each center will also include a senior adult activity area as well as a small kitchen. Construction is anticipated to begin in February, and it will take approximately eight months to complete.

The Jones Community Center also wil include an 800-square-foot area connected by a covered walkway to the Community Center that will be used as a boxing space for an established youth and young adult boxing program. Other improvements at Dr. Iola Jones Park include construction of additional parking at the new center; rerouting a portion of the existing asphalt trail and resurfacing the entire trail; and repairing, sealing and striping the existing parking and basketball courts.

The city is using funds from an October 2017 bond issue to construct the new centers. The bond issuance raised $15 million for recreation and athletic capital improvements. Approximately $2.5 million of the money will be used to construct the centers.

FBi Construction will build the centers and Collins and Almers Architecture is the architect.

https://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_0a9e0d56-1936-11e9-ae38-f75015d95225.html?fbclid=IwAR3PoMT4ehOP2Tal4npsVN41bgqSZw0fpS9uVeHNIXA3R9n_TNO8SEeOVZo

Francis Marion University to host 21st Annual MLK Celebration

/in , , /by

By: Andrew Boardwine

FLORENCE, S.C. — Francis Marion University’s annual remembrance Martin Luther King celebration will be Jan. 17 in Chapman Auditorium on the FMU campus. The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce is co-sponsor of the event.

The event, which brings together both the region and the FMU family to celebrate King his legacy in the field of civil and human rights, will begin at 6:15 p.m. with a candlelight march. The march begins on the front lawn of the Wallace House and processes to the McNair Science Building and the Chapman Auditorium.

The 21st Annual MLK Jr. Celebration Program will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapman Auditorium, with performances by Young, Gifted and Blessed Gospel Choir and others. South Carolina Rep. Carl Anderson of Georgetown will provide the event’s keynote address.

Dr. Daphne Carter-McCants, FMU’s assistant president for student affairs and one of the event’s organizers, says the importance of the event cannot be overstated as it provides a valuable forum for the campus and surrounding community as a whole to learn of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

McCants says the event is a great way to educate FMU’s students and the community as a whole on the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his role in the Civil Rights Movement.

https://www.scnow.com/news/local/article_e2dcfbf8-15c8-11e9-9399-3fb3dceaf1d9.html?fbclid=IwAR1jINhCOCKoB4wssbtyVBi5XiWmE3kDj7TlqJvdqzQ1ZiAjDc2dzY4f2PM

Florence One Schools superintendent says contractor to be picked soon for McClenaghan renovations

/in , , /by

By: Joshua Lloyd

FLORENCE, S.C. – Superintendent Richard O’Malley told the Florence One Schools board Thursday that a contractor is expected to be selected by the end of the month to renovate the McClenaghan building.

At Thursday’s meeting, the school district welcomed two new school board members and three returning school board members, as well as elected a chairman, vice chairwoman and secretary.

The district will renovate the McClenaghan building and move the Poynor Adult Education to McClenaghan. Then, the district plans to move forward with the creation of a magnet high school in the Poynor building.

Currently, the district has sent a request for proposals and received responses to the request for hiring a contractor for the renovations, which will be selected by the end of the month, O’Malley said.

The district has also written to the mayor and the Florence City Council to receive the $12 million from the agreement with the city that was made in 2016 to move forward with the renovations.

Chairman Barry Townsend said for the money to be transferred from the city to Florence One Schools, there had to have been expenditures made on the project. He also said the district requested the money be transferred by the end of January.

The McClenaghan building was formerly a school in Florence, but has been empty.

“It’s a beautiful building with a ton of history, and we’ve got a lot of city leaders who did go to school there and would love to see it as a part of the downtown revitalization,” Townsend said. “The great thing about it is with Poynor right here beside us and McClenaghan just a block away, you combine that with the Florence Little Theatre and the library, it’s really going to help further the renovations up Dargan Street.”

Several board members expressed their excitement about the McClenaghan building finally being renovated.

“I am glad to see you do it,” said school board member Trisha Caulder. “I think we need to do it.”

During the board of trustees meeting, Artie Buxton and Davy Gregg took oath on the school board for the first time. E.J. McIver, Trisha Caulder and Bryan Chapman took their oath for another term on the school board.

The board also re-elected Townsend as chairman of the board. Caulder is vice chairwoman and Porter Stewart is secretary of the board.

https://www.scnow.com/news/education/article_1d8bd926-1552-11e9-896f-578d54b7d25d.html?fbclid=IwAR05rJ1C0YG1v5B5gSLd4KkMd7xHQ4O_-IdxGluVP6gFhF8_WGEW-Z6n-_8