Wedding & Event Venue Near Bishopville, SC.

BISHOPVILLE — Luke Giddings was officially sworn in as Bishopville’s youngest mayor at a ceremony held June 29 in the Colclough Building, where he will preside over his first city council meeting next week.

Along with Giddings, who turned 21 years old in May, new council members Belinda Hay and Keishan Scott, also took the oath of office, administered by Lee County Magistrate Judge Shirley Davidson.

After the swearing in ceremony, the mayor and council members took a few moments to address the audience.

Giddings said he looks forward to working with incumbent council members Wayne Hancock, Edward Byrd, Shirely Hill and Gloria Lewis, as well as newly elected members Belinda Hay and Keishan Scott.

“Because all of us working together defines the future for the next four years,” Giddings said after taking his seat in the mayor’s chair. “Those of you sitting around this table who have been here before—I hope you will help mentor us, help mentor me because I don’t know it all but you’ve been here and I hope you will work with me.”

Giddings made history in the May 9 election, defeating incumbent mayor Grady Brown Sr. in a close contest. During his campaign, Giddings said he believed voters were ready for “a change and a new perspective.”

The new mayor said now it’s time to put the “election behind us…I’m thankful that God has richly blessed the city of Bishopville and I know under this mayor and this council that God will continue to richly bless us if we continue to follow His plan.”

Giddings thanked those who voted in the past election, no matter who they voted for. “You are a citizen of this community and your voice deserves to be heard,” he said. “And I know that this council will respect your opinions and views and try to take them into account in our decision making.”

He ended his remarks, by saying, “To my fellow council members, when I step out of line, I expect you to knee me under the table. And I expect this council, as I said in my campaign, to work together to build a bigger, brighter Bishopville.”

New council members Belinda Hay and Keishan Scott said they’re also excited about getting a chance to serve the city as members of council.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to serve the city as a newly elected council member,” Scott, who is 22 years old, told the audience. “I want to thank you all, the citizens of Bishopville, for taking a chance on a young man like me. I wouldn’t be able to be where I am now if it were not for God. Thank you and I look forward to serving.”

Hay said she knows her parents would be proud of her. “I thank my family, my friends, my community for believing in me and that I have what it takes to improve the city of Bishopville, to work with this council to bring about some positive changes,” she said. “I chose to move back to Bishopville; I always said I was going to get involved and I saw this opportunity so I’m going to make the very best of it. I want to make all of you proud for believing in me and I truly believe that together we can make a positive difference.”

Wayne Hancock, who won re-election to council said he looks forward to working with the new members.

“We’ve had a good four years with the past council and I look forward to working with the new council members and mayor,” he said. “We have a lot of projects already in the works and I look forward to all of us working together as a team to make Bishopville a better place to live. I look forward to the next four years.”

Councilwoman Shirley Hill, who has served one term on council, stressed the need for everyone to work together, as well. “This was my first term on council,” she said. “I’ve learned a lot and I’ve seen a lot. I’m just hoping that we will continue, these next four years, as we did these past four years. A lot of progress has already been made…There will be new ideas with this new mayor and council members and I’m praying that we all continue working together with respect for each other and each other’s opinions, working as a team.”

Hill also encouraged citizens to attend council meeting “to let us know your concerns and needs…More good things are coming down the pike. We’re growing and we will continue to grow.”

BISHOPVILLE — Marilyn McKnight is passionate about what she does. And it absolutely shows. Her enthusiasm and excitement are evident when she talks about her life’s work, her eyes bright and a smile on her face that simply doesn’t go away.

The founder and CEO of Peace Love Glory LLC, (PLG), McKnight’s in-home care business, which employs 127 people and serves 280 clients, has been the fulfillment of a “calling to provide a friendly, family-oriented environment with flexible in-home support,” she says. “Our mission is to provide compassion, comfort and exceptional care to individuals who need assistance with the activities of daily living….And I love what I do; I really, really do.”

Originally from Washington, D.C., McKnight arrived in Lee County in 2012. “God sent me here,” she says. “I didn’t know anything about Lee County. I was actually with another provider in the same business. One day, Mr. Eddie Scarborough told me, ‘If you can work for somebody else, you can do it yourself.’ So I stepped out on faith.”

With a lot of prayer, McKnight opened Peace Love Glory In-Home Care in Bishopville in 2016 in a little building on East Church Street. She is always careful to give God credit for all that she has been able to accomplish.

“And God gave me the name of the business,” she says. “When He told me to do this, I said, ‘Okay, God, I need a name and that’s the name He gave me—Peace Love Glory. When I leave this office in the evenings, I leave with peace in my heart. I love everybody. And Marilyn doesn’t get the glory; God gets the glory. And that’s why the blessings are coming.”

McKnight and her staff recently received another blessing when they moved into a new home—the former Suburban Propane building located at 510 Highway 15 South, just outside of the city limits.

Last month, a ribbon cutting was held to celebrate PLG’s new location, which has been beautifully renovated and updated.

“When we got this new building, it all happened in 30 days,” McKnight says. “God sent a blessing in December when I drove by here and saw the sign saying the building was for sale so I called but it was already under contract.”

But the sale did not go through and three months later, on March 7, the building’s owner called McKnight to see if she was still interested in the property. “I immediately said yes!” McKnight said. She was able to purchase the building, paying for it in full. “On March 30 I got the key,” McKnight said. “I was able to pay for the property so there is no mortgage and what a blessing that it. March 31 was seven years I’ve been in business. I’m a church-going person and seven years means completion. Completion means that, at 109 East Church Street, the job was finished. This is a new office, a new beginning—God was ready to take me to a new chapter and the next adventure.”

Still, when she’s feeling nostalgic, McKnight will drive by PLG’s old location on Church Street. “I’ll just talk to the Lord,” she says. “I’ll say, ‘Lord, just look at where I started and where you’ve brought me to now.’ It has been a blessing over the past seven years…I just want God to continue to use me as a vessel to help his people. That’s what it’s all about when it comes to Peace Love Glory and Marilyn McKnight.”

Peace Love Glory, which serves the elderly, children and adults with special needs and others, strives to provide in-home caregiver support and service with daily living activities to help maintain independence and quality of life at home with the family, friends and community their clients want to keep.

PLG provides a trained, professional caregiver for a few hours each day to help the individual “get through the difficult parts of the day, so that they have more time and energy to enjoy the ‘good stuff,’ ” McKnight says.

As a part of the Lee County community, McKnight’s goal is to get involved and serve in any way she and her company can.

“It has been a blessing to help God’s people,” she says. “You see on our sign ‘Passion to Care.’ You have to have passion in home care…You’ve got to love what you do and people can tell it. They can pick up your spirit and they can tell.”

McKnight, who earned a nursing degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C., has an extensive background in the field of in-home care and the healthcare field. “When I moved to South Carolina, I started working as a nurse at MUSC,” she said. “I also worked for numerous providers in marketing and as an office manager--so I guess God put me there to teach me and prepare me to start my own business. I believe God gave me a gift and He wants me to utilize it to help His people.”

McKnight is well-known in the Florence community, where she lives. She also operates an in-home care business there, with an office located on West Evans Street.

She is justifiably proud of her staff. “We have highly trained caregivers and office staff who provide clients and their families the support they need to continue to thrive in the comfort of their own homes,” McKnight says. Her staff also assists clients trying to navigate the frequently complicated healthcare system. “Not everyone has a computer or access to email,” she says. “I always tell my office staff they have to assist people in the process from the beginning to the end, helping them get the resources they need.”

Her philosophy is simple—and kind. “I tell my staff to just take care of these people as if it was your mother, father or other family member,” McKnight says.

PLG employs experienced personal care aides, nurses and staff and all services are monitored by service coordinators and supervised by a registered nurse. They have clients in Lee, Sumter, Florence, Darlington, Kershaw, Dillon, Marion and Williamsburg counties.

“We have a very diverse staff here and we treat each other like family,” McKnight says.

An admitted workaholic, if she’s not in church, McKnight is usually in her office. “Actually, when I get out of church, I usually head over here to my office,” she says with a laugh. “It’s not so much like work when you love what you’re doing….but I do plan to take a vacation in July, the first I’ve had in five years!”

And wherever she heads for that well-deserved vacation, McKnight knows she’s leaving Peace Love Glory in capable hands.

The Chester County Sheriff’s Office has now obtained arrest warrants for both Bradley Aaron Bianco, age 32, and Harley Renee Hill, age 34 for the charges of Burglary 1st Degree and Malicious Injury to Personal Property.

This incident occurred on October 17, 2023 at a residence on Pressley Road in Chester.

The public is asked to contact the Chester County Sheriff’s Office at (803) 385-5433 if you have any knowledge as to the whereabouts of these subjects.

Bradley Bianco and Harley Hill are considered to be Armed and Dangerous.

The Academy Honor Roll

BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — What a whirlwind March it has been! South Carolina has had warm temperatures one day then below freezing the next. “It is a delight to be travelling again since COVID,” said Catherine Harris, who enjoys organizing tours for local groups.

I was fortunate to be part of the trip to Kentucky’s The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum Answers in Genesis, organized by Harris, who is a retired Lee County probate judge.

Fellow traveler and Bishopville Pilot Club member Carolyn Cumalander said, “Burke Christian Tours is the best way to travel and have fun adventures with family and friends. We met our group in Camden on Wednesday, March, 15 and traveled to Charlotte to spend the night.”

The next morning we were on our way to new places and met a group of travelers from North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. We boarded our large motor coach (friends from Bishopville and Lugoff, as well as 25 new friends we met) and rode through the scenic haze of the Great Smoky Mountains into the Blue Ridge Mountains through the Cumberland Gap.

Our excellent tour guide, Althea Bartlett, played DVDs with the music of the legendary country singers of Tennessee and Kentucky and read inspiring devotions such as, “If you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat.” She also related many facts about the history and attractions of the area.

We stopped in Knoxville, TN to visit the Sunsphere, a tourist attraction built in 1982 for the World’s Fair. It cost more than two million dollars to renovate in 2018, and it reminded me of a disco ball, a Golden Globe in the sky. Sunsphere is 266 feet of steel with 75-feet tall, 24 karat gold-tinted glass windows.

When we reached the top, we could see 360 degrees of the city, viewing the Tennessee River, the University of Tennessee, and the Smoky Mountains.

We arrived at our hotel in Georgetown, KY, a beautiful city in the heart of Kentucky bluegrass, around 7 p.m.

Thursday morning, we celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day, wearing our green and visiting the Creation Museum in the town of Petersburg. It was ironic there was a cold rain. The Creation Museum reflected the history and the timeline of the Bible with exhibits, gardens, etc.

Built in 2007 for $27 million, we entered the Garden of Eden, viewed the Tree of Life, and found ourselves in the Dinosaur Den with the models of giant dinosaurs. The average dinosaur depicted was 11 feet tall and 30 feet long. There were holograms of the story of Adam and Eve, the Flood, how the earth was rearranged after the flood, the mountains formed, and the rivers retreated.

After lunch, we boarded the bus to visit The Ark Encounter. The ark was the most massive structure I have ever seen. According to facts from the museum, the Ark is the largest free-standing timber-frame structure in the world. The ark was constructed with 3.1 million board feet of lumber. It is 510 feet long, 85 feet wide, and 51 feet high, almost the size of two football fields. Made of cedar wood by Amish builders, there are three decks to explore once you board the ark.

Outside of the ark was a restaurant called Emzara’s Kitchen, which is the Jewish name for Noah’s wife. We had a buffet dinner (supper) for less than $20.

Deborah Kennington Boan said, “My grandson Dalton and I had an awesome trip…To see the effort that God made to save Noah’s family from the flood and so much detail that went into the planning of the ship was amazing. The bus and professional driver, Ray Rutherford, may have been Dalton’s favorites. I highly advise this trip for everyone. Noah has always been one of my favorite characters of the Bible.”

The Ark, opened in 2016, has no steps to go from floor to floor but large ramps and elevators. There are sound effects of pounding rain, thunder, and the call of the animals. There are replicas of the living quarters of Noah and his family, along with an indoor garden, a kitchen, and his study/library.

Calla-Gray Brunson, a fifth grade student at Lee Academy said, “When I went to the Ark I had a great time, but that is another story. I rode a camel named Ramses. Its saddle was purple and pink. I told my dad (Curtis) that I wanted to ride that specific one, and when I saw I was next in line I saw that purple saddle. I was so excited and nervous! By the way, it was freezing cold (28 degrees) and windy. I said I wanted to ride a camel and so I did! I even petted a goat. I was excited, scared, happy, nervous, and cold!”

We returned to our hotel after a long day. Saturday morning, we packed and left at 8 a.m. to visit one of the famous national historic sites, Keeneland, a thoroughbred racehorse course and auction farm for horse sales. We learned that Keeneland hosts horse auctions and earns $280 billion a year in horse sales. As we rode through Lexington’s beautiful horse farms, we learned that wooden fences around trees in the middle of the fields were not unusual. They were constructed to protect the horses from rubbing up against the trees.

Hours later we said goodbye to our group and returned to our homes with our spirits and faith renewed. We were moved by the promise of the rainbow blessing.

BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — Downtown Bishopville is one step closer to getting a much-anticipated upgrade to the old railroad depot. Last year, it was announced that Bishopville City Council, Lee County Council, The LINK and the county’s legislative delegation secured $900,000 to revitalize downtown Bishopville’s old railroad depot and rail line property.

On March 23, around half a dozen construction firms’ representatives attended a pre-bid meeting and tour of the depot where their questions were answered by a representative with The Boudreaux Group, the architect firm the city chose for the project.

Mayor Grady Brown, city council members and city administrator Gregg McCutchen were also on hand for the meeting.

McCutchen said bids on the construction project are due by April 6. “Construction should begin around mid-May and be complete by mid-November,” he said.

The historic brick depot, which predates the founding of Lee County in 1902, will be remodeled with a new metal roof and new canopies added along the side over the door openings, making the depot more useable as a venue space for the city.

McCutchen said plans are to turn the railroad area into a recreational space for outdoor activities, private event venues, concerts or festival sites. He said they are working with an architect to keep as much of the depot’s original brick structure intact as possible. “There are some original elements inside we want you them to salvage if possible,” he said. “We’d like to reuse some of those pieces.”

McCutchen said the city is “very happy and excited to see this happening and can’t wait to be able to use it. It will definitely be a nice focal point for residents and visitors to Bishopville. And it will allow people to host events downtown without requiring the city to shut downtown Main Street.”

The old depot had not been in use for more than 40 years and was in poor condition before the city was able to obtain a longterm lease with the railroad, finally securing the property after years of unsuccessful attempts.

Mayor Brown said small towns are the “heartbeat of America, and we believe this project is essential for Bishopville because it will spark growth and encourage more use in the area. I am happy to be a part of the ongoing process to grow Bishopville and Lee County.”

A Lee County food pantry with only a few workers is in dire need of volunteers and is reaching out to the community for help.

CareSouth Carolina is hoping to reach individuals who are willing to make a difference by addressing food insecurity in the Lee County area, according to a news release. The CSC Resource Center and Food Pantry needs volunteers to help with different tasks including bagging food, sorting donations, loading food for clients and assisting with client intakes.

"Whether you can spare half a day, an entire day or commit to volunteering daily, your contribution will play a vital role in supporting our community," the news release stated.

CareSouth Carolina is a private, nonprofit community health center delivering health and life services in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. CareSouth Carolina operates centers in Bennettsville, Bishopville, Cheraw, Chesterfield, Dillon, Hartsville, Lake View, Latta, McColl and Society Hill, according to the release. It also provides family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, women's services, OB/GYN, HIV/AIDS primary care, dental, chiropractic services, pharmacy, geriatrics, social services, clinical counseling, laboratory, 4D ultrasound, X-ray, migrant services and veterans choice providers.

The pantry is operating with only three employees, two of which are available on a single designated day. The overwhelming volume of clients that the pantry has served has made it increasingly challenging for the small team to keep up with demand. By people offering their time and effort, they can directly affect the lives of those facing food insecurity in the community.

"Not having something to eat the whole day just breaks my heart," said CareSouth Carolina Community Health Educator Christy Beasley. "Nobody. Nobody should have to go without eating."

According to the news release, the CSC Resource Center and Food Pantry has become highly successful and now receives USDA foods. This partnership allows the pantry to make a bigger difference in the lives of people throughout the community.

Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Tameeka Lesane at (803) 229-5843 to receive an application form.

The pantry operates from Tuesday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a lunch break from noon to 1 p.m. Volunteers are also welcome to come on Mondays for prepping activities such as sorting foods and bagging items. The pantry is at 106 Hospital Square in Bishopville, formerly known as Dr. Leon E. Hunt's medical office.

"We invite you to become the helping hand that our community needs," Beasley said.