Wedding & Event Venue Near Chester, SC.

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - Albemarle Corporation, a chemical manufacturing company, is investing $1.3 billion and creating 300+ jobs to build a new “Mega-Flex” lithium hydroxide process facility in Chester County.

Officials say the facility will support the increasing demands for electric vehicles and other energy storage applications that use lithium-ion batteries.

Albemarle’s new plant will be nearly 800 acres near Richburg, the facility will be called the “Mega-Flex” facility because it will have the ability to process diverse lithium feedstock, including lithium from recycled batteries according to officials.

The new facility is expected to produce approximately 50,000 metric tons of battery-grade lithium hydroxide annually from multiple sources, with the potential to reach up to 100,000 metric tons.

“Albemarle is focused on meeting growing customer demand and this investment is part of our global commitment to transforming essential resources into critical ingredients that enable a more resilient world. We wanted a location with access to nearby rail and port transportation and the availability of skilled workers. We’re excited to have chosen South Carolina and to be closer to our customers as the supply chain is built out in North America.” said Albemarle Corporation Chief Executive Officer Kent Masters.

Governor Henry McMasters added, “Albemarle’s commitment to our state, with its impressive investment of at least $1.3 billion, further proves South Carolina is one of the best places in the country for electric vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers to call home. We proudly welcome Albemarle and look forward to seeing their tremendous impact in Chester County and beyond.”

Albemarle is joining other vehicle manufacturers who have decided to set up shop in the Palmetto state. Scout Motors is building a new 1100-acre-electric vehicle plant in Richland County, Governor Henry McMaster signed the “Scout Bill” earlier this week.

A press release read that Albemarle is a global leader in providing essential elements for mobility, energy, connectivity, and health.

If you are interested in working for Albemarle, visit their career page.

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Lance Spencer said he works nights as a driver and bought the ticket on his way to work.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Lance Spencer of Chester, South Carolina, is celebrating after his $1 Cash 5 ticket became a $178,158 jackpot dream come true.

“I’m going to make some good memories with my grandkids with this,” he said.

Spencer bought his Quick Pick ticket for Thursday’s Cash 5 drawing from QuikTrip on Sandy Porter Road in Charlotte. He said he works nights as a driver and bought the ticket on his way to work.

“I was just driving around that night thinking about what it would be like to win,” he said. “I just had a dollar and a dream.”

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Later that night, he looked up the results of the drawing.

Playing the lottery is a form of gambling. If you are concerned about your gambling or worried about a friend, you can call the NC Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-877-718-5543. You can also contact the National Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

“I checked the jackpot amount first and saw someone hit it because it was back to $100,000,” Spencer recalled. “Then I checked my ticket and smiled. It was awesome.”

Spencer arrived at lottery headquarters Monday to collect his prize and, after required state and federal tax withholdings, took home $126,938.

He said he will use the winnings to do some projects around the house, go on a vacation with his grandchildren, and put the rest in savings.

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South Carolina Gov. McMaster announced a new $360 million development that's expected to bring 200 new jobs to Chester County.

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and the CEO of IKO Industries announced two major economic developments Wednesday that are expected to bring an estimated 200 jobs to Chester.

IKO, which produces roofing, waterproofing and insulation raw materials, announced it will revitalize a factory on Lancaster Highway that's been closed as part of "Project Phoenix." The fiberglass plant was originally opened by PPG in 1996 before the company sold it to Nippon Electric Glass in 2017. It was shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting over 100 employees out of work.

The $360 million investment is IKO's largest ever in the U.S., David Koschitzky said.

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McMaster said he hopes the projects will encourage more companies to consider moving their operations to South Carolina.

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Chester County Council took a step forward Monday on a proposed $70 million solar farm project.

Council approved the first of three votes needed for an incentive agreement for the yet unnamed company. The incentives would run 40 years and is dependent on power generation at the site.

County bond attorney Michael Kozlarek offered some detail Monday night. The solar generation site would produce about 70 megawatts of AC power annually.

“They are currently in discussions with a power grid provider to offload that power,” Kozlarek said.

The incentive, based on a planned $4,500 per megawatt hour, would come to about $314,000 annually. The fee is what the company would pay instead of taxes. The incentive agreement could be complete as soon as April 3.

A megawatt equates to a million watts. For comparison, Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions announced its largest solar farm to date on Wednesday with a 250 megawatt facility in Texas. Estimates vary by area on how many homes a megawatt can power. According to the York Electric Cooperative estimate of 50 kilowatts powering seven homes, a single megawatt would power 140 homes.

Chester County has the solar farm decision as council moves forward on several major projects.

Another vote finalized some legal work for the already announced IKO project. The roofing product maker aims to bring 180 jobs.

Also, council voted Monday to move forward on three zoning changes related to an also unnamed project. Final approval on each zoning change is needed to allow a 700-acre manufacturing project off Lancaster Highway, east of I-77 near Richburg.

Because the new company hasn’t been named, there have been some public and even council questions in the past week related to public safety and overall quality of the project. Council members Corey Guy and Erin Mosley recently met with county economic development staff, and both now say they’re more comfortable supporting the project.

“I’m pleased with the answers that I got to a lot of questions that I asked,” Guy said.

The chemicals used by the new company are similar to those being produced or used elsewhere in the county now, and are similar to what many people wash with in their own homes, Guy said. Mosley said council members can’t share many details now, and it’s difficult to ask people to blindly trust government.

“It’s not trusting in government, it’s trusting in us to serve you,” Mosley said.

Chairman Joe Branham said he also learned a $6 million bridge over S.C. 9 for rail will be paid entirely by the incoming company.

“No tax dollars whatsoever,” Branham said.

The tallest structure on site will be about 150 feet, but most structures will be 50 feet or below.

This story was originally published March 8, 2023, 10:23 AM.

Maggie James was one of just a few dozen Black students to integrate Chester County Schools in 1965.

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. — This year marks 69 years since the segregation of children in public schools was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Despite the landmark supreme court decision, it would take decades for schools in the Carolinas to follow the law.

In Chester County, it took about 11 years.

Maggie James’ memories of this time are those of pain.

"To have endured nobody talking to you all day," James said. "Nobody even acting like you're irrelevant and to then to be treated like you weren't human."

James was one of just a few dozen Black students to integrate Chester County Schools in 1965.

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"Our parents were sent a form asking if they wanted to transfer us to, you know, the white school," James said.

Moving from the all-Black schools meant having a cafeteria, lockers, a gym, and even new books.

However, James said she underestimated the trauma she would face.

"Some of the students thought we were animals, they would make fun of our faces of our features, you know, my mouth, my nose, my lips," James said.

The backlash was swift and lasted for years.

"We didn't talk about making history," James said. "All I knew was that we had made this choice."

It's a choice that would lead her to the It's a choice that would lead her to the Chester County School District’s Board of Trustees meeting room.

"I am the longest serving school board member, I think ever -- 27 years," James said.

James was the first Black female elected to the Chester County Board of School Trustees in March 1993.

The eighth-grade student at the mercy of others is now the one making decisions to impact hundreds of students.

"I was determined that I was going to be a part when the decisions were being made," James said.

She would later go on to serve as vice chair and then chairwoman, becoming the first Black female to ever hold the office and the second Black person in nearly 45 years to have held the title.

"I would have never imagined this little cinnamon-colored Black girl to come as far as I have come," James said.

She said now, there’s a new battle to fight for fairness in school and it's a lack of school funding.

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"It's almost like instead of going forward, they want to go back and not provide the services, the education, the tools, what they need, what the students need to go forward," James said.

More than 50 years after integrating local schools James continues to make a difference.

"To now sit on a board, and be a part of a district that used to not provide the educational background of things that I needed when I was growing up, and to sit now at the top, it is -- it is overwhelming," James said.

It's also a full-circle moment.