Monday, January 30, 2017
Duke donates $22K to 4 local nonprofits
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Duke Energy last year gave $22,100 to four Lancaster County nonprofit agencies, part of its $2.8 million in donations across the state.
“The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs of the communities where its customers live and work,” said Rick Jiran, Duke Energy VP of Community Relations.
Duke Energy awarded the local grants to the Women’s Enrichment Center, Lancaster County Council of the Arts, Katawba Valley Land Trust, and Lancaster County Partners for Youth.
Duke gave a $5,800 grant to the Women’s Enrichment Center, which was used to purchase supplies and materials for their sewing room, part of their workforce training program.
“We need to recognize that workforce development occurs in many forms – from helping children in schools to helping adults be trained or retrained,” Jiran said. “The women’s enrichment center offers a very unique opportunity for these women to gain a skill which will enable them to be productive.”
Julie Walters, director of the Women’s Enrichment Center, said she was “thrilled that Duke Energy chose us as one of the nonprofits that they wanted to assist.”
Walters encourages people to visit and shop at the group’s store, Lotus Boutique and Designs, at 311 North Main Street. All profits help the women who visit the center seeking assistance with unplanned pregnancies. The mission of the Women’s Enrichment Center is to help the women become self-sustaining.
“There is energy and excitement in their mission,” Jiran said. “It was easy to get behind them and support them. We are supporting an action, not just an idea.”
Lancaster County Council of the Arts received a $4,000 grant, which it applied to two parts of its children’s programming, according to Debbie Jaillette, director of Council on the Arts.
The funding allowed the council to provide scholarships to its arts and sciences summer camps and free tickets to “The Nutcracker” ballet for children who did not have the money to attend.
“I will not turn a child away who wants to go to camp,” Jaillette said.
The money bolstered the camps’ health and wellness initiative, enabling them to give nutritious snacks to camp attendees.
“We were able to give granola, fresh fruit and pretzels rather than potato chips,” Jaillette said. “We then use the opportunity at snack time to talk about why these are better choices.”
Camp ticket prices don’t have a snack allowance, and the grant allows the council to provide healthy snacks.
“Duke has been so, so supportive, and there is no question of the commitment they have in the communities they serve,” Jaillette said. “We are so grateful. The $4,000 is a lot of money to us.”
The foundation gave $2,800 to Katawba Valley Land Trust. The trust shares Duke’s environmental mission, Jiran said, preserving land and greenspace to help ensure quality of life for residents.
Lindsay Pettus, vice president of the Katawba Valley Land Trust, said the grant will be used to develop brochures and educational materials about conservation easements.
Duke Energy also gave a $9,500 grant to Lancaster County Partners for Youth, which the group will use for the Promise Neighborhood project.
“Promise Neighborhood is all about economic development beginning with the child,” Jiran said. “It’s hard to ask a child to do well in school and to focus on their studies when they are hungry. This is about basic needs and being able to give those children what they need as they are growing up so when they reach the time for skills training and being productive adults, they are ready.”
The Duke Energy Foundation also responded to state emergencies last year by giving $100,000 to the One SC Fund, which helps residents recover from disasters. Duke also contributed to Harvest Hope Food Bank and American Red Cross.
The Foundation gave $25,000 to the South Carolina Firefighter’s Association after the wildfires in the Upstate.
Follow Reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.
Lancaster Woman Marched In Washington
For Kornegay, it was an ‘inclusion march,’ not an anti-Trump event
Sunday, January 29, 2017Lauren Kornegay of Lancaster demonstrated with hundreds of thousands at the Women’s March in Washington, D.C., last weekend.
Kornegay, 28, attended with three friends from her hometown in Maryland. She stressed that the march for her was about respect – about showing up and being “for” something more than marching “against” incoming President Donald Trump.
“It was an inclusion march,” Kornegay said. “It was not an anti-Trump march, though some people held signs protesting recent remarks he made on the campaign trail.”
The most obvious reaction to Trump’s comments were the pink, knitted, cat-ear hats worn in response to a crude remark he made about a decade ago that surfaced in a video tape just before the election.
Kornegay described the event as a celebration of differences. The
demonstration was a declaration of resistance to any view other than we
are all equal. The premise of the march was that women’s rights are
human rights.Among the causes being championed in the nation’s capital were the environment, immigrants, Muslims, survivors of sexual assault, Native Americans, women, reproductive health, equal pay, gays, transgendered people, Latinos, blacks, the disabled, and civil rights.
The website for the Women’s March on Washington stated: “We stand together, recognizing that defending the most marginalized among us is defending all of us.”
The rally attracted nearly 500,000 people, according to Washington city officials.
Kornegay said she stopped and stood in the middle of the street, in the sea of pink, and felt the gravity of the movement as people walked past her from all directions. People were crying and hugging strangers and walking hand-in-hand in the shadow of national memorials proclaiming freedom.
“I was like, this is amazing, with all these different people here for the same reason, the same mission – to support what we believe in, to show the world that our voice matters and that we are here. It was powerful.”
She described the march as reminiscent of the peace, love and harmony movement of the hippie generation.
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She said she was especially moved by the men attending the march who carried signs of equality and support for their female friends and relatives.
Hundreds of sister marches were held in most major U.S. cities, including Charlotte, where the march drew 10,000 people. Lancaster resident and retired nurse Pam Phillips said she marched in Charlotte because she “did not want to see progress rolled back” for the LGBTQ community, environmental protection and insurance coverage.
She said the Affordable Care Act has allowed for preventive
colonoscopies, mammograms and contraceptives for most people and
prevented people being denied coverage for pre-existing conditions.“After watching Trump on TV this weekend, I just felt compelled to make my voice heard,” Phillips said.
Friday, January 27, 2017
Lt. Hall back on the job after bizarre eye injury
Lt. Phillip Hall, out of work for three months with a bizarre injury
that cost him his left eye, returned to work at the Lancaster Police
Department on Monday.“Walking in the police department Monday morning felt like coming home from a long trip overseas,” said Hall, a 21-year law enforcement veteran. “I got a great welcome from all my co-workers and city residents.”
Hall, 42, oversees police special operations which includes cases involving narcotics, gang activities and criminal investigations.
He joined the LPD in 2000 after serving four years at the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office. Law enforcement is the only job he has ever wanted to do.
“We are very, very grateful to have him back,” said Capt. Scott Grant, interim police chief. “He is truly one of the most dedicated law enforcement officers I have ever met.”
Grant has known and worked with Hall for nearly 20 years and said one of the best moments of his career was calling Hall on the phone last Friday to tell him he had been released medically and could return to work.
“Every day he is out there doing what he can to make Lancaster better for everyone who lives here. It would have been a real tragedy for his career to end because of this injury.”
Three months ago, Hall injured his left eye in a freak off-duty accident. As he was sawing branches from a fallen pine tree on his hunting property, a limb snapped and slapped him in the face. Just before the limb recoiled, a pine needle pierced his left eye. The sap sealed the hole closed, leaving behind what appeared to be a scratch on his cornea with little hint of the damage deep inside.
The accident happened Oct. 15.
Two days later he lost sight in that eye due to a fungus eating away at the inside of his eye. Despite a round of intense antibiotics and four surgeries, doctors were unable to restore his sight.
Hall said the pain was getting worse and just before Christmas, his doctors advised him that the only way to end the pain was to remove the eye.
The surgery was performed Jan. 5. Next month he will see an ocularist for a custom-fitted artificial eye.
During the three months of uncertainty, Hall’s faith in God, his family and the community were strengthened.
While he lost vision in one eye, he gained a deeper view of how much he was loved and supported by a community he has served for two decades.
His church, Camp Creek Baptist, joined with the Lancaster Police Department to hold a barbecue fundraiser. His parents’ church, West End Baptist, hosted a benefit. The Antioch Volunteer Fire Department, where Hall serves as chief, rallied with other county fire departments and collected money to help offset the medical costs.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for all the support they gave us,” Hall said. “It helped a lot with the medical bills.”
Hall and his wife, Alicia, have been married almost 18 years and have two daughters, Jasmine, 16, and Jordan, 13. Hall said his family, parents and in-laws gave them endless encouragement. His work family and the community kept his spirits up, and he tapped into an extended support system through Facebook.
“People from all over were praying for me,” he said. “Co-workers sent uplifting texts.”
Hall said the outpouring of love kept his hopes alive. He turned it over to God and made peace with the uncertainty. He also made good use of his time away from work.
Hall’s wife, Alicia, said she enjoyed the extra family time during his recuperation, especially the uninterrupted family meals.
“We were able to do a lot of things that we missed out on the past 18 years,” she said. “We went to our first Christmas parade as a family.”
She expressed gratitude for the community’s support, as well as from her employer, Nutramax Laboratories, which made it possible for her to help care for her husband.
“If I needed to leave for the day or even a couple hours, they worked with me,” she said.
Alicia Hall said her husband feared not being able to support his family and resume his 21-year career. She said she saw a sadness in him that he hid from others. “He would hold his head down in disappointment,” she said.
During his time away from work, many people reached out to him and thanked him for helping them in the past.
“With answered prayers and faith, he kept moving,” she said. “It’s a true testimony that God answers prayers.”
Besides the larger life lessons, Hall said he learned a valuable lesson about safety glasses. “Always wear them,” he said.
Follow Reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
700 More Jobs at Movement Mortgage
$18 million investment at Indian Land headquarters
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Movement Mortgage will create 700 more jobs at its Indian Land headquarters over the next five years, doubling the size of its operation on S.C. 160, Gov. Nikki Haley's office announced Tuesday.
The $18 million investment includes the construction of an additional 91,000-square-foot building at Bailes Ridge Corporate Park. Hiring will begin in the first quarter of this year.
The expansion follows the news six weeks ago that Texas-based Compucom Systems will move its headquarters to the same business park, creating 1,500 jobs with a $41 million investment.
"This is another fantastic day for the state of South Carolina and Lancaster County," said Jamie Gilbert, economic development director. "Movement Mortgage is continuing to be a fantastic addition to our business community. We look forward to a long partnership with them."
Elected officials expressed excitement over the news.
"The county council thanks Movement Mortgage for their new commitment to our community, as well as the state and county economic development team that worked with them to get it done," said Steve Harper, Lancaster County Council chairman.
"In just over a year, they have become one of the county’s leading corporate facility operations and have exceeded their initial projection for jobs and investment," Harper said.
Gilbert said this was a very competitive project, with other states vying for the expansion.
"Movement Mortgage’s decision to double the size of its Lancaster County operation speaks volumes about the state and county’s excellent business climate," Gilbert said.
"The Indian Land area has emerged as one of the top locations for headquarters facilities in the Carolinas and Southeast."
Movement Mortgage CEO and co-founder Casey Crawford credits South Carolina and Gov. Haley with "being great partners in creating a business-friendly climate that promotes growth."
Haley expressed satisfaction in probably one of her last official announcements as governor of the Palmetto State. Haley's confirmation vote as President Trump's U.N. ambassador was scheduled for Tuesday.
“Movement Mortgage has been an incredible partner to our state since its doors opened in Lancaster County two years ago," Haley said.
"This $18 million investment, and the 700 jobs it means for Lancaster, shows that Movement Mortgage is committed to our state and its people, and we couldn’t be more excited to see this fantastic company continue to grow and thrive here for a very long time,” Haley said.
Movement Mortgage was founded in 2008 and is based in Indian Land. The company now has 4,100 employees nationwide, including more than 650 at the Lancaster County headquarters. It operates in 48 states.
The company nearly doubled in volume and employment over the past year, funding $7.8 billion in mortgage loans in 2015, compared to $4.3 billion in 2014.
The headquarters is at 8024 Calvin Hall Road in Indian Land, in Bailes Ridge Business Park. The existing 104,000-square-foot building is the National Sales Support Center and the flagship location for Movement’s loan processing, underwriting, capital markets, marketing, legal, compliance and other corporate functions.
The facility includes on-site amenities for employees such as a cafe, fitness center and prayer room. The modern, open-concept design promotes collaboration, innovation and continued growth.
"It's always good when a local company is doing well and expanding," said Steve Willis, county administrator.
But progress in the Panhandle brings more traffic challenges.
Willis said the S.C. Department of Transportation is already working on widening S.C. 160.
He said the county will be asking the Rock Hill Fort Mill Area Transportation Study (RFATS) to look closely at 160 in the next fiscal year.
The study will look at the possibility of redirecting some traffic off 160.
"A huge component of the traffic on 160 is Fort Mill commuters going to Ballantyne," Willis said. "It's a matter of how do we get people from Point A to Point B without being on 160, maybe by using Barberville."
Growth and job development in the southern part of the county lag behind the explosion of growth in the Panhandle.
Duracell is still expected to be phased out over the next two and a half years despite record production, Gilbert said. Initially the county had hoped to lure one of parent company Berkshire Hathaway's businesses to the Duracell location.
The Berkshire Hathaway companies are individually managed, he said, with no one overseeing or orchestrating the shuffling of businesses.
Manufacturing jobs are the focus of the county's southern job development.
"We do have manufacturing expansions in the hopper for the Lancaster and Kershaw areas, but they won't be in the size or magnitude of the recent office expansions seen in the Panhandle," Gilbert said.
"We are focused on ways to be more aggressive and incentivize deals to come to Lancaster, Heath Springs and Kershaw," Gilbert said.
The Economic Development Advisory Board has been established with that main goal and is meeting Feb. 1.
"Product development and bringing more economic prosperity to the southern part of the county are at the top of our list," Gilbert said.
Job seekers for the new jobs at Movement Mortgage can apply at www.Movement.com.
Follow Reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 12:41 pm
Movement Mortgage will create 700 more jobs at its Indian Land headquarters over the next five years, doubling the size of its operation on S.C. 160, Gov. Nikki Haley's office announced Tuesday.
The $18 million investment includes the construction of an additional 91,000-square-foot building at Bailes Ridge Corporate Park. Hiring will begin in the first quarter of this year.
The expansion follows the news six weeks ago that Texas-based Compucom Systems will move its headquarters to the same business park, creating 1,500 jobs with a $41 million investment.
"This is another fantastic day for the state of South Carolina and Lancaster County," said Jamie Gilbert, economic development director. "Movement Mortgage is continuing to be a fantastic addition to our business community. We look forward to a long partnership with them."
Elected officials expressed excitement over the news.
"The county council thanks Movement Mortgage for their new commitment to our community, as well as the state and county economic development team that worked with them to get it done," said Steve Harper, Lancaster County Council chairman.
"In just over a year, they have become one of the county’s leading corporate facility operations and have exceeded their initial projection for jobs and investment," Harper said.
Gilbert said this was a very competitive project, with other states vying for the expansion.
"Movement Mortgage’s decision to double the size of its Lancaster County operation speaks volumes about the state and county’s excellent business climate," Gilbert said.
"The Indian Land area has emerged as one of the top locations for headquarters facilities in the Carolinas and Southeast."
Movement Mortgage CEO and co-founder Casey Crawford credits South Carolina and Gov. Haley with "being great partners in creating a business-friendly climate that promotes growth."
Haley expressed satisfaction in probably one of her last official announcements as governor of the Palmetto State. Haley's confirmation vote as President Trump's U.N. ambassador was scheduled for Tuesday.
“Movement Mortgage has been an incredible partner to our state since its doors opened in Lancaster County two years ago," Haley said.
"This $18 million investment, and the 700 jobs it means for Lancaster, shows that Movement Mortgage is committed to our state and its people, and we couldn’t be more excited to see this fantastic company continue to grow and thrive here for a very long time,” Haley said.
Movement Mortgage was founded in 2008 and is based in Indian Land. The company now has 4,100 employees nationwide, including more than 650 at the Lancaster County headquarters. It operates in 48 states.
The company nearly doubled in volume and employment over the past year, funding $7.8 billion in mortgage loans in 2015, compared to $4.3 billion in 2014.
The headquarters is at 8024 Calvin Hall Road in Indian Land, in Bailes Ridge Business Park. The existing 104,000-square-foot building is the National Sales Support Center and the flagship location for Movement’s loan processing, underwriting, capital markets, marketing, legal, compliance and other corporate functions.
The facility includes on-site amenities for employees such as a cafe, fitness center and prayer room. The modern, open-concept design promotes collaboration, innovation and continued growth.
"It's always good when a local company is doing well and expanding," said Steve Willis, county administrator.
But progress in the Panhandle brings more traffic challenges.
Willis said the S.C. Department of Transportation is already working on widening S.C. 160.
He said the county will be asking the Rock Hill Fort Mill Area Transportation Study (RFATS) to look closely at 160 in the next fiscal year.
The study will look at the possibility of redirecting some traffic off 160.
"A huge component of the traffic on 160 is Fort Mill commuters going to Ballantyne," Willis said. "It's a matter of how do we get people from Point A to Point B without being on 160, maybe by using Barberville."
Growth and job development in the southern part of the county lag behind the explosion of growth in the Panhandle.
Duracell is still expected to be phased out over the next two and a half years despite record production, Gilbert said. Initially the county had hoped to lure one of parent company Berkshire Hathaway's businesses to the Duracell location.
The Berkshire Hathaway companies are individually managed, he said, with no one overseeing or orchestrating the shuffling of businesses.
Manufacturing jobs are the focus of the county's southern job development.
"We do have manufacturing expansions in the hopper for the Lancaster and Kershaw areas, but they won't be in the size or magnitude of the recent office expansions seen in the Panhandle," Gilbert said.
"We are focused on ways to be more aggressive and incentivize deals to come to Lancaster, Heath Springs and Kershaw," Gilbert said.
The Economic Development Advisory Board has been established with that main goal and is meeting Feb. 1.
"Product development and bringing more economic prosperity to the southern part of the county are at the top of our list," Gilbert said.
Job seekers for the new jobs at Movement Mortgage can apply at www.Movement.com.
Follow Reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.
Monday, January 23, 2017
Chamber May Move Its Offices Downtown
Faile urges members to boost revitalization
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Dean Faile began his 10th year as president of the Lancaster chamber Thursday night urging the group to relocate its offices to downtown and join in the revitalization of the city’s business core.
Faile spoke to more than 200 chamber members and guests at the group’s largest gathering of the year, the annual meeting, dinner and awards ceremony at USC Lancaster’s Bradley Building.
“It’s time to move the chamber back to the downtown and be a part of the revitalization effort,” Faile told the crowd, saying the county’s leading business organization needs to pick up the pace of change and take advantage of the region’s growth.
He said the chamber moved to its current offices, tucked almost out of sight on Colonial Avenue near North Elementary School, about the time he started working there, leaving a Main Street building that was in poor repair. Now, he said, it’s time to return.
County Economic Development Director Jamie Gilbert and City Administrator Flip Hutfles, both said they favor the move, and talks have just begun about the possibility.
Hutfles said he supports a dual office downtown for the chamber and the new county Economic Development Department.
“This will be a big benefit for the city and the chamber as well, to have a presence downtown,” Hutfles said. “By the end of the summer, downtown should have a different feel as revitalization continues. It’s one little step at a time.”
Currently, the economic development department is located at 1033 W. Meeting St., behind Crown Cinema in a building shared with the Veteran’s Administration.
Gilbert said he agreed with Hutfles. “I think we should be downtown,” he said. “Faile said it best. We should be downtown if we want business to come downtown.
“There is a significant synergy with what the chamber does with work-force development and what we do in the economic development department,” he said.
Another shot in the arm for downtown will be the addition of 521 BBQ. Owner Mike Dial, winner of the Small Business of the Year award Thursday night, plans to open a restaurant at 123 South Main Street this spring.
Dial, who started the restaurant in Indian Land in 2005 and expanded to Tega Cay in 2014, drew huge applause from the room when the award was announced.
“With very little food-service knowledge, this man used common sense and determination to drive his success,” said First Citizens Bank’s Chief Finance Officer Steve Sherrill, who presented the award. “He had several basic tenets: always serve fresh food, always provide great customer service and always treat employees right.”
Sherrill said Dial has done more than just make great barbecue. He has fed volunteers for Kids First, provided dinners for families during the holidays, donated hams to needy families, and even helped an employee pay medical bills.
“I am humbled by it,” said Dial. “I don’t think I really deserve it. I am sure there are other businesses out there who have worked harder and are more deserving.”
The honor of Business Person of the Year went to Susan Rowell, publisher of The Lancaster News. The recipient of this award “must be great at work, great in the community and be a great person,” said presenter Kristen Blanchard. The outgoing chamber chair, Blanchard handed off the group’s leadership to Shaun Barnes, director of external relations at Comporium Communications.
Blanchard said Rowell stands out because “she has been involved in nearly every facet of our nonprofit community, volunteering with the United Way, the Lancaster County Community Foundation, the J. Marion Sims Foundation, the Carolinas Literacy Network, Springs Memorial Hospital, the Women’s Enrichment Center, the Promise Neighborhood Project and mangy other community efforts.”
Rowell has also served as president of the Rotary Club and chair of the chamber, and this year she will take on a national leadership role as chair of the National Newspaper Association.
Rowell gathered her thoughts after a moment of speechlessness.
“I’m honored to live in this community and work in this community and be a part of all this volunteerism, and I love The Lancaster News and The Lancaster News family. It’s because of them that I get to do what I love to do.”
Volunteer of the Year went to Lisa Hallman, also the recipient of Lancaster County School District’s 2016 Teacher of the Year Award.
“On top of all her many volunteer hours and contributions, she was one of the driving forces behind the Lancaster County School District’s bond referendum, which passed successfully,” said Bruce Brumfield, president and CEO of Founders Federal Credit Union.
“I love Lancaster County,” Hallman said. “I’m very honored to serve our people here.”
The Citizenship and Service Award went to Stan Johnson, former CEO of Kanawha Insurance, who has spent more than 30 years in Lancaster devoted to community service.
“Stan Johnson is a man of superior intellect with the motivation of always doing what is right, and he has the good judgment to know what is right,” said T. Thomas, former vice president of Kanawha. “He has given freely and abundantly of his time and energies to his adopted home of Lancaster and been generous with his financial support of many worthwhile endeavors.”
Ambassador of the Year went to Keith Harris, a marketing consultant with Indoff Promotional Products.
“Harris goes above and beyond in everything we ask, always asking what more can I do to help, from attending ribbon cuttings, coordinating meetings, to serving as the chairperson for two chamber committees,” said Janice Dabney, CEO of Springs Memorial Hospital.
Follow Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Dean Faile began his 10th year as president of the Lancaster chamber Thursday night urging the group to relocate its offices to downtown and join in the revitalization of the city’s business core.
Faile spoke to more than 200 chamber members and guests at the group’s largest gathering of the year, the annual meeting, dinner and awards ceremony at USC Lancaster’s Bradley Building.
“It’s time to move the chamber back to the downtown and be a part of the revitalization effort,” Faile told the crowd, saying the county’s leading business organization needs to pick up the pace of change and take advantage of the region’s growth.
He said the chamber moved to its current offices, tucked almost out of sight on Colonial Avenue near North Elementary School, about the time he started working there, leaving a Main Street building that was in poor repair. Now, he said, it’s time to return.
County Economic Development Director Jamie Gilbert and City Administrator Flip Hutfles, both said they favor the move, and talks have just begun about the possibility.
Hutfles said he supports a dual office downtown for the chamber and the new county Economic Development Department.
“This will be a big benefit for the city and the chamber as well, to have a presence downtown,” Hutfles said. “By the end of the summer, downtown should have a different feel as revitalization continues. It’s one little step at a time.”
Currently, the economic development department is located at 1033 W. Meeting St., behind Crown Cinema in a building shared with the Veteran’s Administration.
Gilbert said he agreed with Hutfles. “I think we should be downtown,” he said. “Faile said it best. We should be downtown if we want business to come downtown.
“There is a significant synergy with what the chamber does with work-force development and what we do in the economic development department,” he said.
Another shot in the arm for downtown will be the addition of 521 BBQ. Owner Mike Dial, winner of the Small Business of the Year award Thursday night, plans to open a restaurant at 123 South Main Street this spring.
Dial, who started the restaurant in Indian Land in 2005 and expanded to Tega Cay in 2014, drew huge applause from the room when the award was announced.
“With very little food-service knowledge, this man used common sense and determination to drive his success,” said First Citizens Bank’s Chief Finance Officer Steve Sherrill, who presented the award. “He had several basic tenets: always serve fresh food, always provide great customer service and always treat employees right.”
Sherrill said Dial has done more than just make great barbecue. He has fed volunteers for Kids First, provided dinners for families during the holidays, donated hams to needy families, and even helped an employee pay medical bills.
“I am humbled by it,” said Dial. “I don’t think I really deserve it. I am sure there are other businesses out there who have worked harder and are more deserving.”
The honor of Business Person of the Year went to Susan Rowell, publisher of The Lancaster News. The recipient of this award “must be great at work, great in the community and be a great person,” said presenter Kristen Blanchard. The outgoing chamber chair, Blanchard handed off the group’s leadership to Shaun Barnes, director of external relations at Comporium Communications.
Blanchard said Rowell stands out because “she has been involved in nearly every facet of our nonprofit community, volunteering with the United Way, the Lancaster County Community Foundation, the J. Marion Sims Foundation, the Carolinas Literacy Network, Springs Memorial Hospital, the Women’s Enrichment Center, the Promise Neighborhood Project and mangy other community efforts.”
Rowell has also served as president of the Rotary Club and chair of the chamber, and this year she will take on a national leadership role as chair of the National Newspaper Association.
Rowell gathered her thoughts after a moment of speechlessness.
“I’m honored to live in this community and work in this community and be a part of all this volunteerism, and I love The Lancaster News and The Lancaster News family. It’s because of them that I get to do what I love to do.”
Volunteer of the Year went to Lisa Hallman, also the recipient of Lancaster County School District’s 2016 Teacher of the Year Award.
“On top of all her many volunteer hours and contributions, she was one of the driving forces behind the Lancaster County School District’s bond referendum, which passed successfully,” said Bruce Brumfield, president and CEO of Founders Federal Credit Union.
“I love Lancaster County,” Hallman said. “I’m very honored to serve our people here.”
The Citizenship and Service Award went to Stan Johnson, former CEO of Kanawha Insurance, who has spent more than 30 years in Lancaster devoted to community service.
“Stan Johnson is a man of superior intellect with the motivation of always doing what is right, and he has the good judgment to know what is right,” said T. Thomas, former vice president of Kanawha. “He has given freely and abundantly of his time and energies to his adopted home of Lancaster and been generous with his financial support of many worthwhile endeavors.”
Ambassador of the Year went to Keith Harris, a marketing consultant with Indoff Promotional Products.
“Harris goes above and beyond in everything we ask, always asking what more can I do to help, from attending ribbon cuttings, coordinating meetings, to serving as the chairperson for two chamber committees,” said Janice Dabney, CEO of Springs Memorial Hospital.
The
chamber’s Small Business of the Year award winner Mike Dial gets a
congratulatory hug amid the applause as he makes his way to the front.
Dial is the owner of 521 BBQ and plans to open another restaurant on
Main Street in Lancaster this spring. Below,
Friday, January 6, 2017
Brace For Snow
County hunkers down for frigid winter storm
Friday, January 6, 2017
Frigid temperatures are guaranteed and a blanket of snowfall is
likely for Lancaster County this weekend as a blustery storm swings up
the East Coast.A winter-storm warning is in effect for the county from late tonight through Saturday afternoon. The National Weather Service in Columbia upgraded its watch to a warning Thursday afternoon.
The snow forecast has changed several times the past couple of days. The latest estimate puts most of the county in the 2- to 5-inch zone. But everyone agrees about the frigid temperatures ahead.
“On Monday, we will have dangerously cold weather,” said Darren Player, the county’s emergency management director.
“Lancaster County will experience some of the most frigid weather we’ve seen in several years, with possible wind chills of zero to below zero on Monday morning.”
Frostbite is a real danger, Player said.
The weather service is forecasting a low of 8 degrees Sunday night. The forecast highs for Saturday, Sunday and Monday will barely hit the freezing mark.
S.C. Department of Transportation trucks were out early Thursday spraying brine on primary roads including S.C. 9, S.C. 9 Bypass, S.C. 200 and U.S. 521. Crews in each of the state’s 46 counties began preparing snow- and ice-removal equipment Wednesday morning.
“We will be treating all primary routes today,” said John McKay, SCDOT resident maintenance engineer.
DOT crews will be working 24-hour shifts beginning today and will continue pretreating roads until plowing operations become necessary.
Lancaster County will assist DOT first on main thoroughfares and then secondary roads. Public Works Director Jeff Catoe said all equipment will be ready by this morning.
“We are inventorying our blades, salt and equipment and will have everything in place by Friday morning,” Catoe said.
Duke Energy said it does not expect power outages to be a problem during the storm.The Lancaster Warming Center located at 1242 Trestle Lane will be open 24 hours through Monday morning beginning tonight at 6 p.m.
The regular hours of 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. will resume Monday, according to Melanie Outlaw, chair of the Lancaster Area Coalition for the Homeless.
“We operate with volunteers who have other jobs, and we don’t have staffing past Sunday night,” Outlaw said.
The Lancaster County School District postponed all after-school activities planned for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, according to Bryan Vaughn, district safety director.
“We’re monitoring the forecasts for the next few days, and postponing activities just makes sense,” Vaughn said. “We always make these decisions based on keeping students and staff safe.”
The storm will begin with rain tonight, changing to snow mixed with freezing rain and sleet through midday Saturday. The snow will taper off to light freezing drizzle Saturday afternoon.
The National Weather Service is forecasting 2 to 5 inches of snow here, along with a tenth of an inch of ice. Temperatures will drop below freezing this evening and to the upper 20s by Saturday morning. Visibility could be less than a mile early Saturday.
 |
| At Walmart 9 pm Jan 5 |
 |
| Walmart Bread section at 9 pm Jan 5 |
 |
| Duke
Energy’s meteorologists issued this snowfall prediction Thursday
afternoon. According to their estimates, the northern part of Lancaster
County may get up to 4 inches of snow, shown in dark blue, and the
southern half up to 3 inches. |
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
The story behind the story. Bobbie Catoe, my Mama, is the smartest, strongest woman I know and the most loving.
Let me add here that my Mama is an angel. I watched her take care of Uncle Sonny for the past ten years. She helped him keep his home until he could not afford it anymore and then she gave him the trailer in her backyard to live in. When his health was such that he could not drive a car anymore, she helped him get a golf cart - a sporty golf cart. She made that trailer into a home and looked after him until his health needs required him to be put in a nursing home. Then she made Room 121 at White Oak Manor into a home. She did the paperwork to get him in the VA hospital for services, filed for his veteran's benefits for him, did the paperwork so he could receive his meds from the VA, helped him get his disability benefits, and fought many battles on his behalf that no one will ever know about. She had to play the game at the end with White Oak and Springs Memorial that allowed him to keep his room at White Oak when the hospital stays exceeded the quota. She is smart. She is determined. She lugged the wheelchair around with her when she took him to the many hospital, doctor's visits and VA appointments. One of the most poignant moments I recall was when I was driving them to the VA on I-77 before the amputations. He was in the front passenger seat, and mama could read his body language. She told me to pull off at the next exit and she got out and rubbed the cramps out of his legs. She just knew. Intuitive. Plugged-in - in the way that the great spiritual teachers tell us we should be. I'm not talking about the internet or smart phones. I'm talking about that invisible cord that connects us to each other and it vibrates with a subtle hum that only the spiritually awake can hear and feel. My Mama is that advanced. I've read so many spiritual books, but they pale in comparison to what she teaches with her life every single day. A very beautiful scene from "It's A Wonderful Life" has God speaking to Clarence, an angel sent down to help George Bailey so Clarence could earn his wings. Clarence asks God, "Is George Bailey sick?" God replies, "No, it's much worse. He's discouraged."
My mama held back the dark cloud of discouragement for Uncle Sonny with her countless visits, bringing treats, doing his laundry, bringing peppermint candy until he could not even eat that anymore. The best thing she did was her daily reminder to him that despite this aggressive disease that took his legs and his ability to speak and eat that he was still Sonny and that as long as he was alive she would not let him forget that or forsake him. She sat with him through the last night of his life holding his hand until he took his last breath. She was whispering words of hope, acceptance, encouragement right to the end. Then she took care of the details. And with all that going on, she still gave us (who call her Mama, Grandma, or Aunt Bobbie) the best Christmas ever.
Clarence was sent back to earth to earn his wings. I have no doubt that my Mama's wings are already waiting for her in Heaven.
January 1, 2016
Pope Hangs Up Robe
Longtime chief magistrate retires after 20 years on the bench
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| Jaqueline “Jackie” M. Pope, the first female chief magistrate in Lancaster County history, wore her Judge’s robe for the last time Friday. |
“It has been an honor and a privilege to do this,” said Pope, who is retiring after more than 20 years of service.
A Winthrop graduate, she worked in the school system 17 years before becoming a part-time magistrate for the town of Kershaw in November 1995.
Two years later, Pope was hired full time after being appointed as chief magistrate by Sen. Greg Gregory, head of the county’s legislative delegation.
Gregory said Pope was clearly the right choice.
“I’ve made thousands of decisions as senator for this district over the years, but I’ve never made a better decision than I did when I hired and appointed her as chief magistrate,” Gregory said.
Pope’s retirement plans revolve around a deliberate intention to enjoy and embrace every moment with her family.
Pope and her husband, former SLED agent Clayton Pope, have been married for nearly 49 years.
They have one daughter, Angie Jones, and two grandchildren, Will and Lainey.
“Clayton and I are just going to take one day at a time and enjoy each other and each day the good Lord gives us,” Pope said.
Centralized court
Gregory said one of Pope’s major accomplishments was overseeing the 1999 consolidation of the county’s magistrate system into one centralized location.
For years, the centralized office was on Wylie Street. After the space was outgrown, the office was relocated to S.C. 9 Bypass East.
The streamlining of court, combined with Pope’s leadership, Gregory said, “has given us one of the best magistrate courts in the state.”
Pope said she is proud of the improvements made in the judicial system the past 17 years. Becoming a centralized court was the biggest change, she said.
“Having all the records in one place has made everything easier,” she said.
Pope has also witnessed other changes and advancements in the last two decades.
“When I started as a magistrate, I had to do everything manually, but now, thanks to technology, everything is done by computer for all kinds of record keeping,” she said.
Pope said the most recent improvement at Central Court is video conferencing. That change means magistrates no longer have to go to the detention center on Pageland Highway for bond hearings.
“Our judges are here and this has made everything so much safer,” Pope said.
Pope insists the magistrate office’s “amazing staff” is the key to its success. The staff includes eight clerks and two constables who work with four judges.
“They are the most important part of the court system here and they are the ones who make the court run smooth,” she said.
Wendy Ellis, who has worked with Pope for the past 16 years as a clerk, describes Pope’s retirement as bittersweet.
“I think it’s great for someone to retire and be in perfect health to enjoy their remaining years like that,” she said.
“I’m happy for her, but it is sad for us. It’s hard losing a member of your family and we are family here. I love her dearly, and we are going to miss her.”
Ellis said Pope’s greatest strength is an even, motherly demeanor.
“She disciplined when she needed to discipline like any parent would,” Ellis said. “She treated us like family by caring for us and reprimanding us when we needed it.”
Pope said her faith and a strong prayer life have gotten her through the difficult cases.
She often looks to Micah 6:8 – “He hath shown thee, O man, what is good, and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God” – as a scriptural anchor.
Full circle
Pope’s time as a magistrate was indeed meant to be full circle. The first and last cases heard by Pope were argued by longtime local attorney Francis Bell.
Bell, a former Lancaster County Council member, lauded Pope for her consistency on the bench.
“She was a good judge who tried to be fair with everybody,” Bell said.
And Pope, the consummate judge, didn’t handle that final case any differently.
“When you put the robe on, everything changes with the way you see things,” she said. “You are completely neutral and detached and you only see the facts.”
Follow reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152
Pet Sanctuary
Gloria Davey’s 10-year quest for no-kill shelter in the county
The pieces are falling into place for Gloria Davey, a cheerfully obsessed 64-year-old Indian Land retiree.
Six years ago, she started the nonprofit animal-rescue group Paws in the Panhandle, with a thrift shop to generate revenues. In 2014, the group paid $92,000 for 12 acres near Fort Mill. Now, with architectural plans ready, she is raising money to build her dream – a no-kill shelter that would save more than 1,000 dogs and cats each year.
“I feel so blessed to have such great people helping make this much-needed facility a reality,” Davey said.
“I could not be happier to be a part of this solution and to be where we are in such a short period of time.”
The 4,000-square-foot building will cost about $700,000, Davey said. She plans to raise half the construction cost in donations, then ask a bank to lend the rest. The nonprofit has collected more than $100,000 toward that goal.
“We are kicking off our capital campaign,” Davey said. “We have come this far with our resources and are now reaching out to the community.”
Davey got a good fundraising bump the Friday after Thanksgiving. She was explaining all this to a reporter at the thrift shop, PAWSitively Thrifty. The place was busy, with a dozen cars in the parking lot.
A woman walked up, interrupted Davey and asked for her 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-identification number.
“I’m playing Santa Claus today,” said the woman, Rep. Deborah Long, who is retiring from the S.C. Legislature after four House terms. “I have a big chunk of change left in my campaign account, and we are allowed to donate to a 501(c)(3).”
By the time Long left, Davey was $1,000 closer to her target.
Paul Craig of Indian Land, a longtime Davey backer, bought a love-seat recliner that day for $185.
“We like to go through and find all kinds of treasures, and we like to support Paws in the Panhandle,” Craig said. “We are always contributing. We take some things out and bring things back in. It’s a great cause.”
Davey, a Chester native, retired in 2005 from Springs Industries after a 35-year IT career. At 55, she was too young and healthy to settle into the rocking chair on her porch. She had no children or grandkids to keep her busy. Her mother had recently passed away, and a divorce offered a new lease on life.
Davey signed up for a nine-month course to become a certified dog trainer.
She had never been to an animal shelter. During the course, she spent a lot of time on the dog side of those chain-link fences.
“I didn’t even know what a shelter was,” Davey said, with a little lingering embarrassment.
“I thought shelter animals were mean, aggressive and bit people.”
While getting her certification, Davey found her calling in life.
One step at a time
It started with Brownie, an abandoned mutt at the York County Humane Society. He was an unruly 65-pounder, and at age 3, his irresistible stage had long passed. It appeared he would spend his life without a family.
Davey began working with the dog several times a week, building trust and providing consistent care and discipline. Three months later, Brownie was adopted.
Davey spent the next several years volunteering in shelters, training abandoned and discarded dogs.
She decided she could save more animals by forming a rescue group. So in 2010, she founded Paws in the Panhandle. To fund the nonprofit, she started the thrift store on Whippoorwill Lane, just off Possum Hollow Road. All proceeds went to the rescue group.
At the time, Davey was orchestrating the rescue and placement of dogs with about 20 foster homes. She pulled dogs from county shelters, provided veterinarian care and hosted adoption events.
For a pet to be adopted, Davey interviewed the prospective owner, coordinated a meet-and-greet for the pet and checked references. The group averaged placing one dog each week in a permanent home.
Davey started making plans to build a sanctuary for homeless animals that would be inviting to people looking for a pet, a loving place for cats and dogs that had nowhere to go.
For six years, she has methodically pushed forward in her plans, step by step, through frustration, fatigue, bad knees and high blood pressure.
By the end of 2014, using profits from the thrift store and community donations, the nonprofit paid $92,000 for a 12-acre site near Regent Park in Fort Mill.
Davey realizes some pets have to be euthanized because of illness, injury or temperament, but at her sanctuary, no healthy animal will ever be killed because of limited space. There are only two no-kill facilities in the area, one in York County and one in Mecklenburg County.
On Davey’s refrigerator hangs a beautiful architectural drawing of the pet sanctuary. The facility would have 20 dog runs and house up to 50 dogs and, separately, 20 cats.
Most of them would come from area shelters, including the overcrowded Lancaster County Animal Shelter. According to shelter Director Alan Williams, 328 dogs were put to sleep there in 2015. The number is smaller this year, 151 through November.
The numbers for cats are much higher. In 2015, the county euthanized 1,043 cats, and 1,185 so far this year.
Ironing out details
The past two years Davey has cut back on adoption drives to focus on getting the sanctuary built. She has met with civil engineers, county zoning officials, architects and builders.
Since 2014, the thrift store and community donations have raised a third of the $350,000 needed to qualify for bank funding.
Donations of any amount can be made on the website www.pawsinthepanhandle.com, on the group’s Facebook page or in person at PAWSitively Thrifty. The group recently began a GoFundMe page, Paws in the Panhandle Sanctuary.
“If everyone in the county would give $2, we could build this,” Davey said. “We are in search of every single dollar from those willing to help us make this happen.”
Paws is seeking corporate and individual sponsors for one-time donations or ongoing contributions.
Davey said she’s confident that once the sanctuary is built, the income stream in place will provide the necessary $150,000 in annual operating costs.
Linda Taylor, one of three members of the nonprofit’s board of directors, said her longtime friend’s commitment to the project has been absolute.
“Gloria is a great person and very dedicated to this dream, and she is very focused on it,” Taylor said.
“This has been her life since 2010…. She has done everything in her power to make it happen. It has been a lot of work. I had no idea when she first started this what she was taking on, and I’m not sure she did either.”
Paws in the Panhandle’s board meets at 6 p.m. the first Monday of every month at the Del Webb Library in Indian Land. The public is welcome to attend.
Davey says her faith in her mission and a higher power keep her going.
“I have prayed about this so much,” she said.
“This is why I am here. I know it is. I pray, ‘Dear Lord, if this is something you want me to do, then give me some help.’”
Davey is ready to sit in that dusty rocking chair on her front porch. She has no doubt the sanctuary will be built and she can enjoy retirement at a slower pace, with her little, long-haired Chihuahua, Bella, in her lap.
Her plan for the sanctuary includes an ongoing advisory board with an attorney, a veterinarian and an accountant.
“I want it to run without skipping a beat when I die,” Davey said.
Follow Reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.
https://www.gofundme.com/w9mk4b98
Want to help: Donations can be made on the website www.pawsinthepanhandle.com, on the groups facebook page or in person at PAWSitively Thrifty. The group's gofundme link is above - Paws in the Panhandle Sanctuary.
The pieces are falling into place for Gloria Davey, a cheerfully obsessed 64-year-old Indian Land retiree.Six years ago, she started the nonprofit animal-rescue group Paws in the Panhandle, with a thrift shop to generate revenues. In 2014, the group paid $92,000 for 12 acres near Fort Mill. Now, with architectural plans ready, she is raising money to build her dream – a no-kill shelter that would save more than 1,000 dogs and cats each year.
“I feel so blessed to have such great people helping make this much-needed facility a reality,” Davey said.
“I could not be happier to be a part of this solution and to be where we are in such a short period of time.”
The 4,000-square-foot building will cost about $700,000, Davey said. She plans to raise half the construction cost in donations, then ask a bank to lend the rest. The nonprofit has collected more than $100,000 toward that goal.
“We are kicking off our capital campaign,” Davey said. “We have come this far with our resources and are now reaching out to the community.”
Davey got a good fundraising bump the Friday after Thanksgiving. She was explaining all this to a reporter at the thrift shop, PAWSitively Thrifty. The place was busy, with a dozen cars in the parking lot.
A woman walked up, interrupted Davey and asked for her 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax-identification number.
By the time Long left, Davey was $1,000 closer to her target.
Paul Craig of Indian Land, a longtime Davey backer, bought a love-seat recliner that day for $185.
“We like to go through and find all kinds of treasures, and we like to support Paws in the Panhandle,” Craig said. “We are always contributing. We take some things out and bring things back in. It’s a great cause.”
Davey, a Chester native, retired in 2005 from Springs Industries after a 35-year IT career. At 55, she was too young and healthy to settle into the rocking chair on her porch. She had no children or grandkids to keep her busy. Her mother had recently passed away, and a divorce offered a new lease on life.
Davey signed up for a nine-month course to become a certified dog trainer.
She had never been to an animal shelter. During the course, she spent a lot of time on the dog side of those chain-link fences.
“I didn’t even know what a shelter was,” Davey said, with a little lingering embarrassment.
“I thought shelter animals were mean, aggressive and bit people.”
While getting her certification, Davey found her calling in life.
One step at a time
It started with Brownie, an abandoned mutt at the York County Humane Society. He was an unruly 65-pounder, and at age 3, his irresistible stage had long passed. It appeared he would spend his life without a family.
Davey began working with the dog several times a week, building trust and providing consistent care and discipline. Three months later, Brownie was adopted.
Davey spent the next several years volunteering in shelters, training abandoned and discarded dogs.
She decided she could save more animals by forming a rescue group. So in 2010, she founded Paws in the Panhandle. To fund the nonprofit, she started the thrift store on Whippoorwill Lane, just off Possum Hollow Road. All proceeds went to the rescue group.
At the time, Davey was orchestrating the rescue and placement of dogs with about 20 foster homes. She pulled dogs from county shelters, provided veterinarian care and hosted adoption events.
For a pet to be adopted, Davey interviewed the prospective owner, coordinated a meet-and-greet for the pet and checked references. The group averaged placing one dog each week in a permanent home.
Davey started making plans to build a sanctuary for homeless animals that would be inviting to people looking for a pet, a loving place for cats and dogs that had nowhere to go.
For six years, she has methodically pushed forward in her plans, step by step, through frustration, fatigue, bad knees and high blood pressure.
By the end of 2014, using profits from the thrift store and community donations, the nonprofit paid $92,000 for a 12-acre site near Regent Park in Fort Mill.
Davey realizes some pets have to be euthanized because of illness, injury or temperament, but at her sanctuary, no healthy animal will ever be killed because of limited space. There are only two no-kill facilities in the area, one in York County and one in Mecklenburg County.
On Davey’s refrigerator hangs a beautiful architectural drawing of the pet sanctuary. The facility would have 20 dog runs and house up to 50 dogs and, separately, 20 cats.
Most of them would come from area shelters, including the overcrowded Lancaster County Animal Shelter. According to shelter Director Alan Williams, 328 dogs were put to sleep there in 2015. The number is smaller this year, 151 through November.
The numbers for cats are much higher. In 2015, the county euthanized 1,043 cats, and 1,185 so far this year.
Ironing out details
The past two years Davey has cut back on adoption drives to focus on getting the sanctuary built. She has met with civil engineers, county zoning officials, architects and builders.
Since 2014, the thrift store and community donations have raised a third of the $350,000 needed to qualify for bank funding.
Donations of any amount can be made on the website www.pawsinthepanhandle.com, on the group’s Facebook page or in person at PAWSitively Thrifty. The group recently began a GoFundMe page, Paws in the Panhandle Sanctuary.
“If everyone in the county would give $2, we could build this,” Davey said. “We are in search of every single dollar from those willing to help us make this happen.”
Paws is seeking corporate and individual sponsors for one-time donations or ongoing contributions.
Davey said she’s confident that once the sanctuary is built, the income stream in place will provide the necessary $150,000 in annual operating costs.
Linda Taylor, one of three members of the nonprofit’s board of directors, said her longtime friend’s commitment to the project has been absolute.
“Gloria is a great person and very dedicated to this dream, and she is very focused on it,” Taylor said.
“This has been her life since 2010…. She has done everything in her power to make it happen. It has been a lot of work. I had no idea when she first started this what she was taking on, and I’m not sure she did either.”
Paws in the Panhandle’s board meets at 6 p.m. the first Monday of every month at the Del Webb Library in Indian Land. The public is welcome to attend.
Davey says her faith in her mission and a higher power keep her going.
“I have prayed about this so much,” she said.
“This is why I am here. I know it is. I pray, ‘Dear Lord, if this is something you want me to do, then give me some help.’”Davey is ready to sit in that dusty rocking chair on her front porch. She has no doubt the sanctuary will be built and she can enjoy retirement at a slower pace, with her little, long-haired Chihuahua, Bella, in her lap.
Her plan for the sanctuary includes an ongoing advisory board with an attorney, a veterinarian and an accountant.
“I want it to run without skipping a beat when I die,” Davey said.
Follow Reporter Mandy Catoe on Twitter @MandyCatoeTLN or contact her at (803) 283-1152.
https://www.gofundme.com/w9mk4b98
Want to help: Donations can be made on the website www.pawsinthepanhandle.com, on the groups facebook page or in person at PAWSitively Thrifty. The group's gofundme link is above - Paws in the Panhandle Sanctuary.
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