Wedding & Event Venue Near Darlington, SC.

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.

RELATED: 1 person injured from large fire at Darlington Co. body shop

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.”

DARLINGTON — Darlington Mayor Curtis Boyd easily won reelection in the Nov. 7 municipal election.

Boyd, who sought a second term, faced two challengers — Damain J. Prince and Scott Pruitt.

With six of six precincts reporting, Boyd won reelection by capturing 54 percent of the 1,524 votes cast. Prince and Pruitt finished with 39 percent and 7 percent, respectively.

The results are unofficial until canvassed by the Darlington County Election and Registration Department.

Three at-large seats were also contested in the city of Darlington. Six candidates sought the three positions.

Incumbents John Milling, Bryant Gardner and Howard Nettles were challenged by Gloria Hines, Albert Johnson and Angela McRavin. The top three vote-getters were elected.

There were 4,051 votes cast in the City Council election.

Gardner, Milling and McRavin received the most votes. Incumbents Gardner and Milling finished with 19.5 percent and 18.27 percent, respectively, of the ballots cast. McRavin received 17.2 percent. Incumbent Nettles collected 17.1 percent, while Hines and Johnson received 14.8 percent and 12.9 percent, respectively.

CADES — South Florence County residents now can jump on a bus to go to MUSC Black River Medical Center.

Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority and MUSC Black River Medical Center officials announced Feb. 5 the start of a new bus route to connect Lake City to the medical center, which opened in January 2023.

The route provides a reliable and convenient link for Lake City area residents seeking medical services at the center.

MUSC Black River Medical Center Executive Director Allen Abernethy said the facility has been serving the residents of Williamsburg County and southern Florence County for a little more than a year.

“In that year, we have cared for thousands of family members, friends and our neighbors. To me, Black River means quality, compassion and patient-focused care,” Abernethy said.

In its first year, the center recorded 22,427 visits to its emergency room. It performed 101,181 lab tests and 27,216 imaging studies. It had 1,356 inpatient admissions and more than 38,000 outpatient visits.

The medical center provides reliable medical care that is close to home, Abernethy said.

The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority’s new bus route will give more people access to the center’s medical care and help close medical care equity gaps in the Pee Dee, he said.

MUSC Health Primary Care-Lake City physician Benjamin Wade Lamb called Feb. 5 a great day in the fight against non-medical factors that influence health outcomes.

Transportation and hospital access has been a consideration since the initial plans to establish the Black River Medical Center, Lamb said.

“Today, we have closed that gap,” said Lamb, who also is a member of the Black River Medical Center advisory board. “We have provided access now with this partnership with PDRTA to provide high quality health care for the citizens of lower Florence County at no cost.”

Nearly 70 percent of the population of Lake City and surrounding communities doesn’t have access to transportation. Demographics reveal a higher number of senior citizens live in the Lake City area, Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority Executive Director Don Strickland said. They depend on others for rides.

FLORENCE — Kate Rotan couldn’t go more than a few steps at one point in the reopened Carolina Trading Post without seeing someone she knew. Hugs were exchanged, “How are you doings” were shared and the occasional vendor came up to her for assistance.

There was almost always someone in every row of the Carolina Trading Post on Feb. 1, its first day open in a new location at 1521 Second Loop Road, the former location of All-Stars Sports. It marks the third, and hopefully, final location of the store, according to co-owners Rotan and DeDe Lowder.

The Carolina Trading Post attracts vendors from around the Pee Dee, South Carolina and other states, such as Virginia and North Carolina, and lets them sell their products in spaces under Rotan and Lowder’s roof.

The idea for the store had been kicked around for years by the two. It became a reality when Lowder called Rotan and sent a picture of a building by Florence-Darlington Technical College.

Lowder invited Rotan to see the inside of the building now that she had the key. Rotan asked how she got it.

It was because Lowder had already paid the first-year lease for the place.

“And here we are four years later,” Rotan said.

Entrepreneurship runs in Lowder’s family. Her grandmother owned a grocery store in Lake City, and when Lowder asked if she was ever afraid she wouldn’t make it, she received words that still define her approach to business.

“We were either gonna make it or we were gonna starve,” Lowder said, echoing her grandmother’s words.

The first location was so small around — 1,200 square feet — that you could walk in, spin in a circle, and see everything, Rotan said. The two stayed there with 11 vendors for eight months before moving to the 14,000-square-foot Irby Street location.

The Second Loop Road location has 84 vendors and rows of space for them, serenaded by country music ranging from Kenny Chesney to Dolly Parton.

FLORENCE — Teachers with alternative certifications fill classrooms in Florence 1 Schools.

The district welcomes at least 20 teachers each year who are seeking teacher certification through an alternative pathway. Some of those teachers have real-world experience in the subjects they’re teaching, others found their passion after getting a bachelor’s degree in another discipline.

Florence 1 Schools made room for more opportunity with its new district-embedded alternative certification, TeachFlorence1. The program is one of four of its kind in South Carolina and will increase access to training and support in the district.

“It’s very exciting,” said district Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Courtney Clayton. “We really feel like this is a way to retention for our teachers.”

The district has long used the Program of Alternative Certification for Educators, Teachers of Tomorrow and the American Board for alternative certifications. All three have different rules, requirements, coursework and offer varying grade-level certifications.

Though the district holds information sessions for the programs, most of the processes happen outside of the district. Online applications, third-party support and courses can leave prospective teachers feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, Director of Marketing and Talent Ashley Watson said.

Watson recruits and helps those hoping to teach in the district while pursuing an alternative certification find which program is right for them. The district’s new program is a game-changer for recruiting, she said.

“We don’t have to send them somewhere else, we don’t have to have them apply through somewhere else,” Watson said. “We have the resource right here in front of them.”

TeachFlorence1 will cut through the noise and confusion of using other programs, though the district will still work with those programs, Clayton said.

The new program will function similarly to other alternative certification pathways.

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with at least 18 hours of credit in the subject area they would teach along with a 2.75 grade point average. They also have to pass the Praxis II — a subject-area content knowledge test — before being accepted.

Those accepted into the program receive an alternative route teaching certificate while they complete the three-year program.

Participants will take Clemson University-affiliated teaching courses during the program. Some courses will be taught online by Clemson professors; Clayton will teach others in person and online.

Participants will have a co-teacher — an experienced teacher in the same school — who will serve as a mentor. They’ll get support from their co-teachers through weekly meetings for the duration of the program.

“Teaching is a team effort, no matter how much experience you have,” Clayton said. “It’s very much looking at the needs of the teachers and being able to address them immediately.”

Clayton and the district believe the increased in-house support will help bring teachers to the district. More importantly, Clayton said, it will encourage teachers to stay in the district.

Teacher vacancies have steadily increased in South Carolina since the 2019-2020 school year, according to data from the South Carolina Department of Education’s Teacher Recruitment Task Force Recommendations. At the start of the 2022-2023 school year, there were 1,473 vacancies — up from 1,063 in 2021, 699 in 2020 and 556 in 2019.

Teachers in the state have also been steadily leaving the profession since 2020. More than 6,100 teachers left the profession at the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

Greenville County School District has seen success with its district-embedded alternative certification program — Greenville Alternative Teacher Education Program — since its inception nearly a decade ago, Coordinator Dr. Candice Moore said. The district started the program with 10 participants, and the number has increased yearly since. There were 99 participants in the district’s latest class.