Wedding & Event Venue Near Darlington, SC.

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in Darlington County. To date, 13 people have been identified as part of this cluster.

Legionnaires’ disease is a pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella and includes symptoms of fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath and muscle aches. People can get sick from Legionella by breathing in small particles of water containing the bacteria. Legionella is not spread from person to person.

“The risk of Legionnaires’ disease among residents of Darlington is low,” said Dr. Abdoulaye Diedhiou, director of DHEC’s Division of Acute Disease Epidemiology. “Most people exposed to Legionella do not develop Legionnaires’ disease.”

People over the age of 50, especially those who smoke cigarettes and those with weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or other chronic health conditions are at increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease.Those at higher risk of getting a severe infection should seek medical care early if they have the above symptoms. Health care providers should test for other causes of respiratory illness, including influenza, COVID-19, RSV and others as appropriate. Pneumonia caused by Legionella is treatable with antibiotics.

DHEC’s investigation includes efforts to determine the source of the disease cluster in the community. Investigations into these types of Legionnaires’ clusters are complex. It is often not possible to determine the origin of the bacteria that infected people. Water from cooling towers, hot tubs, misters, decorative fountains and plumbing systems are possible sources of infection.

“We are actively investigating all potential sources,” Diedhiou said.

People concerned about their risk can protect themselves by avoiding breathing in water mists from human-made water systems. Everyone is encouraged to seek medical attention if they begin having symptoms of pneumonia.

For more information about Legionnaires’ disease, please visit the CDC Legionella webpage. Health care providers are also encouraged to read the DHEC Health Advisory regarding this cluster.

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DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — The South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame held an induction ceremony Wednesday afternoon to recognize eight officers for their outstanding contributions to law enforcement in South Carolina, including former Darlington County Sheriff Glenn Campbell.

Campbell served as sheriff from 1984-2008, the longest tenure of any sheriff in the county's history.

In April of 2017, Darlington County council members approved the following resolution renaming the detention center in Campbell's honor:

“WHEREAS, it is the desire of Darlington County Council to recognize RETIRED Sheriff W. Glenn Campbell for his tireless efforts and dedication to the county; and WHEREAS, W. Glenn Campbell began his career with Darlington County as Sheriff on January 1, 1985. Mr. Campbell resigned from the South Carolina Highway Patrol after 14 years as a Highway Patrolman; and WHEREAS, Darlington County Council acknowledges that W. Glenn Campbell provided 24 years of dedicated service to the citizens of Darlington County providing protection and loyal service; and WHEREAS, W. Glenn Campbell is the longest serving Sheriff in Darlington County’s history dating back to 1784; and WHEREAS, W. Glenn Campbell has demonstrated loyalty, compassion, professionalism, and dedication to the citizens of Darlington County. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the governing body of Darlington County, the Darlington County Council, to honor and commend Retired Sheriff W. Glenn Campbell, not only for his 14 years of service to the State of South Carolina as a Highway Patrolman, but also for his dedicated and loyal 24 years of service as Sheriff in Darlington County. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Darlington County Council presents this Resolution to Retired Sheriff W. Glenn Campbell in honor of his dedication and commitment to Darlington County Government.”

SCDPS Director Robert G. Woods, IV is chair of the SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Advisory Committee that inducted Campbell and the others.

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“Today, we rightly honor this group of law enforcement professionals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to duty and service throughout their commendable careers,” Woods said. “Their legacy will be preserved and permanently displayed in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame to ensure they are recognized for their diligence, commitment, and service to the state of South Carolina.”

The first ceremony recognizing officers for meritorious service was held in October 2017, and since then, there have been 42 officers inducted into the SC Hall of Fame for excellence in law enforcement.

Photos show the aftermath the day after a devastating fire that badly damaged O'Neals Body Shop and nearly a dozen vehicles on the property off Lamar Highway in Darlington County, South Carolina, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Credit: Tonya Brown)

DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Ten cars, an office building and other priceless mementos were all destroyed Tuesday evening in a massive fire at a body shop in Darlington County.

The incident occurred at O’Neal’s body shop in the 1300 block of Lamar Highway in Darlington County, according to the shop's owner, Jimmy O’Neal.

Viewer submitted video shows a major fire at a body shop off Lamar Highway in Darlington County, South Carolina on the night of Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Credit: Viewer submitted)

O'Neal said he has owned the shop for more than four decades.

“I’ve been here 44 years. I help a lot of people. A lot of people help me. It works both ways. I’m not too sad," said O'Neal.

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Chief Ricky Flowers with the Darlington County Fire District said when they arrived on the scene, the building was engulfed in flames.

The fire is believed to have been started by employees working on a car. One employee suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment, said Flowers.

O'Neal said they were working on a fuel tank in a car when the fire started.

“We were putting a gas tank under a car. And the light fell over and ignited the gas tank," said O'Neal.

Traffic had to be rerouted as crews battled the fire.

Several people stopped by the shop Tuesday morning to see the aftermath of the fire, including O'Neal's lifelong friend, Randy Timmons. Timmons said to see all the damage is just heartbreaking.

“I just see a tragedy, tragedy. It’s terrible this happened, you know, to Jimmy. It’s bad, and Jimmy was good to people. Jimmy has been good to people. You can replace material things, you know. We just have to pray for him. I hate this happened. I been knowing Jimmy for a long time. My father passed in 2015. He knew Jimmy good and he and Jimmy were real good buddies. And it’s just terrible this happened," said Timmons.

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Shirley Graham is O'Neal’s cousin. She can't believe the shop is gone after 43 years.

“It’s really sad. He’s a good man. He always does people good. And it’s a shame this had to happen. Just pray for him that everything will work out. God has his plan," said Graham.

Viewer submitted video shows a major fire at a body shop off Lamar Highway in Darlington County, South Carolina on the night of Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Credit: Viewer submitted)

O'Neal's wife said the shop was more like a second home to her. She would walk every day from their house next door to the shop to help her husband. She is just thankful their home didn't burn.

Jimmy O'Neal said he doesn't know what's next for him, but he plans to get back into the car business at some point.

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"It’s hard to describe. Really, I mean, you know, I lost everything. And it is what it is. And I’ll put my pieces together and move on. You know that’s all I can do," said O'Neal.

DARLINGTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fiber Industries, the largest domestic producer of high-quality polyester staple fiber, today announced the establishment of Darlington Green, a sustainability hub for textiles and packaging manufacturing and related research, development, and innovation. The company also announced that it has rebranded as Darling Fibers, reflecting its industry leadership in sustainability efforts and support for the local community. Darling Fibers will anchor the Darlington Green hub.

“We are aligning our brand and purpose with our potential,” said Don Bockoven, CEO of Darling Fibers. “Our goal is to build on our rich heritage as an organization by fostering innovation and spurring productivity while preserving and enhancing the environment. We envision accelerating the growth and resilience of America’s textiles and packaging industries through collaboration and partnership.”

To chart a clear path for Darlington Green, Darling Fibers is reimagining its 765-acre campus as a hub for textiles and packaging innovation. As part of that process, Darling Fibers will take a lead role in forming an Advisory Board comprised of community and industry stakeholders, to establish a definitive mission and vision for the sustainability hub. Once operational, Darlington Green will bring together and leverage the power of textiles and packaging manufacturers, state and local governments, academic research institutions, technologists, entrepreneurs, and other interested parties to reinvigorate and advance sustainability efforts.

“Darlington Green is in active discussions with partners to co-locate manufacturing and pilot new products and emerging recycling technologies, harness our collective expertise and revitalize the U.S. polyester and plastic industry,” said George Bandy, Jr., Chief Sustainability Officer of Darling Fibers.

Rebranding to Darling Fibers

According to Bockoven, since restarting the former Wellman business in 2020, the company has retooled long-dormant manufacturing lines, reestablished industry relationships, and refined its strategy for high-quality low-carbon product development.

Today, Darling Fibers’ one-million-square-foot, state-of-the-art polyester manufacturing facility can process a range of raw materials through finished goods. While currently serving customers with existing inventory, Darling Fibers has been actively engaging new customers to further scale its production of polyester fiber and chip.

“More than 380 million tons of plastic waste was generated in the world last year and only 10 percent of that plastic was recycled, with the rest incinerated, landfilled or dumped in our oceans,” Mr. Bandy added. “We see Darling Fibers and Darlington Green as being at the forefront of finding solutions and capitalizing on opportunities presented by these profound challenges.”

About Darling Fibers

Darling Fibers (formerly Fiber Industries) is the largest domestic producer of high-quality polyester staple fiber for the fabric, garment, and fashion industry, with one million square feet of manufacturing capability across 12 lines on its 765-acre campus in Darlington. The company returned manufacturing to the U.S. through a restarting in 2020 and aims to be a pioneering force in the textiles and plastics industry through its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community. Learn more: darlingfibers.com.

DARLINGTON — Brick by brick, Darlington County’s new courthouse is going up just a few hundred yards from the heart of downtown Darlington.

The new courthouse is easily visible from the existing courthouse. Standing inside the lobby, there’s a glimpse of orange traffic cones blocking off the construction zone. From the fourth floor, inside Clerk of Court Scott Suggs’ office, there’s a clear view of the nearly finished red brick building.

After a few failed attempts for a new courthouse, construction is nearly complete. The new building is expected to make everyone who works in the existing building — court employees, judges and government employees — safer.

Suggs, clerk of court since 1997, has seen several attempts to build a new courthouse. Each attempt fizzled for one reason or another— not wanting to raise taxes to foot the bill or proposing a building that was just too big and expensive.

The plan that put the new courthouse in motion was different.

Building a smaller facility meant only for the courts and court personnel wouldn’t cost as much as building a new facility for everyone, Suggs said. Renovating the existing courthouse for the other government agencies after the courts move would be doable.

The county used reserve funds — money it already had — to foot the bill for the new courthouse. The $15.4 million courthouse will steer a large amount of traffic away from the cramped existing courthouse.

“I feel sure all the people who have to function in the court system — the public defenders, the prosecutors, all the staff, the judges, all those — will find this facility more useful and user friendly,” County Administrator Marion Charles Stewart said. “Safety is a big deal there.”

Judges can run into a variety of people on their way to the courtroom, Suggs said.

Having the judge’s chambers at the end of a hall can be a challenge. A judge would pass the public defender’s office and the parole and probation office and a holding cell — and maybe someone they just sentenced or someone he’s about to see in court.

The current courthouse renovated a more private area for the judges. A quiet corner with less traffic and an elevator that takes them up right behind the courtroom. But the judges felt isolated, Suggs said.

“It’s just not a safe environment for any judge to have to traverse to get to the judge’s chamber in the courtroom,” Suggs said.

Judges will have a private entrance at the new courthouse along with secured courtrooms. They won’t have to come into contact with anyone unless they want to, Suggs said. And there will be more room for everyone.

The existing courthouse can be a tight squeeze.

Some courtrooms are so close that lawyers can nearly reach out and touch one another from their counsel tables, Suggs said. The judge’s bench is almost close enough to touch.

With so little room, the existing courthouse can only hold two court sessions at a time. The new courthouse will be able to hold four at once.

The Clerk of Court, Register of Deeds Office, two resident family court judges and a resident circuit court judge will move into the new building. The government agencies in the existing court building will remain there and the building will undergo renovations to help fit their needs.

Once it’s complete, the new courthouse will be the third courthouse in just a few hundred yards.

Sort of.

The new courthouse and existing courthouse will sandwich a mural of the county’s fifth courthouse, which was removed in the 1960s.

Together, the three will represent more than 100 years of Darlington County history.

“This is something to look at and be proud of,” Suggs said.

The new courthouse — originally set to open in November — will likely be complete and functional in early 2024, Stewart said.

FLORENCE — Christmas remains the theme for many events around the Pee Dee this weekend.

Events range from Lunch with Santa at the Darlington Country Club at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 17 in Darlington to the City Center Farmers Market, which will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Dec. 16 at 200 Sanborn Street in Florence.

People interested in going to the farmers market should plan on using Darlington Street to access Sanborn Street because the Florence Christmas Parade will block off Evans Street.

So here are 3 Things to Do in the Pee Dee this weekend:

From oom-pah-pah to melody lines: TubaChristmas is celebrating its 50th year in 2023. Harvey Phillips conceived TubaChristmas in 1974 as a tribute to his teacher and mentor William J. Bell, who was born on Christmas Day 1902. TubaChristmas has become a worldwide celebration. Pee Dee TubaChristmas launched in 2017. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled 2020 and 2021 Pee Dee TubaChristmas plans, but it returned with 30 tuba and low-brass musicians performing traditional Christmas songs at the Magnolia Mall in 2022. Approximately 30 musicians will play Christmas songs at 2 p.m. Dec. 16 at Magnolia Mall in Florence. It’s a good opportunity to add a musical interlude to your Christmas shopping.

Christmas on parade: The Florence Christmas Parade starts at 11 a.m. Dec. 16 at the intersection of Sunset Drive and Evans Street. The parade route follows Evans Street to downtown Florence. The parade lineup is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday. Evans Street, west of South Irby Street, will be closed during the parade lineup. The parade will feature high school bands, floats and, of course, Santa Claus. It will be a nice day to watch the parade with high temperatures in the low 60s.

Lace up your skates: You can skate into the holiday season at the Florence Center from Dec. 15-21. The rink will be open from 6-7:45 p.m. and 8-9:45 p.m. Dec. 15. The Dec. 16 hours are noon to 1:45 p.m., 2-3:45 p.m., 5-6:45 p.m. and 7-8:45 p.m. The Dec. 17 hours are 2-3:45 p.m., 5-6:45 p.m. and 7-8:45 p.m. Tickets are $12, which includes skate rental, and are sold at the door. Christmas songs will be played on the sound system to add more holiday spirit to the skating.

SUMTER — A German manufacturer of magnets used in electric vehicles is set to create 300 new jobs and invest over half a billion dollars.

Sumter will be home to the first U.S. facility for e-VAC Magnetics, which produces rare earth permanent magnets. CEO Erik Eschen and Gov. Henry McMaster made the announcement at a press conference Dec. 13.

The manufacturing plant will be placed on an 85-acre lot at Pocotaligo Industrial Park and is expected to be completed by fall 2025.

The announcement comes after the Department of Defense in September announced plans to expand domestic manufacturing of rare earth permanent magnets. The DOD plans included a $94.1 million award to e-VAC. The magnets, aside from being used in EVs, are used in the creation of military vehicles such as the F-35 plane and unmanned aerial vehicles, according to a DOD press release.

It also comes a day after electric vehicle battery factory AESC announced it would expand its Florence facility, adding an additional 450 jobs to the already 1,170 announced in December of last year, and joins the incoming Scout Motors plant in Blythewood as state officials continue to turn their focus on expanding the state’s capabilities when it comes to EVs.

“The automobile industry is really important to the state of South Carolina,” said state Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III. “It’s our largest manufacturing sector. It’s critically important that they make a pivot from internal combustion engines to the battery electric vehicles.”