Wedding & Event Venue Near McCormick, SC.

McCORMICK, S.C. - Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette paid a visit to the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture at John de la Howe on Thursday for a firsthand look at the future of agriculture in the state.

En route to an event in Aiken, Lt. Gov. Evette spent about 90 minutes touring the 1,310-acre working farm in rural McCormick County and visiting with students and staff at the nation’s only residential high school devoted to agricultural education.

“I am so impressed – so impressed by what’s going on out here and so impressed by the students that are here,” Evette said at the end of her visit. “So many times we see in the news, the national news, about all the things that kids are doing wrong. But all these children have taken the path less traveled to do something that they’re really passionate about. That gives us hope for the future, and our future is bright. We always say that here in South Carolina, and these students are a testament to that.”

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In the school’s library, the lieutenant governor chatted with student leaders J.C. Chandler of Belton and Caitlyn Krout of Fair Play about their academic studies along the school’s four pathways: animal science, plant science, wildlife and natural resources management, and agricultural mechanics and technology. She then stopped by the school’s ag mechanics shop to discuss career readiness with teacher Russ Abrams.

“Every place you go, you hear, ‘I didn’t realize the impact our farmers have on us,’” Evette said. “Especially now, with food prices skyrocketing. Everybody’s starting to have a whole new appreciation. I said it this morning: If you see a farmer, thank a farmer – because that’s how we’re eating every day.”

Evette stressed the importance of the mission to prepare students such as those at the Governor’s School for Agriculture to be college-ready and career-ready to meet the growing demand for skilled labor in South Carolina.

“We all know we need more farmers,” she said. “You talk to our water commissioners; they need more water engineers, they need more soil engineers. By highlighting why those are really great career choices, all we’re doing is opening up our future – and that’s what the Governor’s School is doing.”

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After a driving tour of the campus – which included a visit to the tomb of the school’s namesake, French physician Dr. John de la Howe – the lieutenant governor returned to the school cafeteria for a photo opportunity. Afterward, she stood inside a circle of students and encouraged them to continue the noble mission of advancing agriculture in the Palmetto State.

“I think Agriculture Commissioner (Hugh) Weathers is extremely proud of the Governor’s School for Agriculture,” Lt. Evette said. “Hugh has got a lot to brag about, and so do I. I told everybody here, the students here, as you reach big milestones, please reach out to me because I would love to brag about you not just around the state but across the nation. That’s one of the things I enjoy most – bragging about South Carolina.”

For more information on the academic programs at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Agriculture and potential enrollment, visit the school’s website at delahowe.sc.gov.

Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

McCormick, S.C. (WJBF) – People in McCormick, South Carolina are getting ready for the holiday season with the 9th annual Festival of Trees at the Grist Mill.

The Grist Mill has been around since 1898 and is located in the Dorn Complex. Each year they deck the halls of the mill as part of a fundraiser.

“That’s nineteen trees and all of these wonderful vignettes for the young and the young at heart. You’ll see it’s anchored this year by ‘The Grinch that Stole Christmas’,” said Design Volunteer, Mary Tobin.

While the event is free and open to the public, the donations that are given help preserve a little bit of history.

“This event, which is a fundraiser for the McCormick Historical Commission, really is to keep the last three buildings of the Dorn Complex maintained for future generations to see,” said Tobin.

Even though the Festival of Trees is for a good cause, for the people of McCormick the main goal is getting people into the Christmas spirit.

“Many people say I had no idea that this even existed and people do love it and we have people who come back every year and many people who come more than once” said Designer Linda Baker.

“Never do we repeat the same thing and we promise you that these nineteen trees will get you in the spirit no matter what,” said Tobin.

“It’s fun, we love it, and the most fun is watching the people as they come through,” said Baker.So if you’re looking to start the Christmas season off right, then the Festival of Trees at the Grist Mill may be right up your alley.

“This is an amazing blend of history of a building that dates back to 1898 and one of the last two left in this country that was driven by steam and all of that hardware is surrounded by the lights of the Christmas season,” said Tobin.

“This is the biggest event in the whole country so just come. From miles around there’s nothing that will give you this much pleasure,” said Baker.

The Festival of Trees kicks off on the first two Fridays and Saturdays in December from 12 pm to 7 pm. It’s a free event. Donations are appreciated.

McCORMICK, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - People who live in Savannah Lakes Village in McCormick County say their neighborhood mail system is a mess.

Some of them are older and have a tough time getting around. They are conflicted about how to get their mail without driving into town.

We sat down with neighbors to break down some of their confusion.

When Gerry Goldstein moved into the neighborhood, mail delivery was his last thought.

“With a mailbox at the end of the driveway. Who would ever think when there are mailboxes all over, and you’re paying for a mailbox, that you wouldn’t get delivered to your mailbox,” he said.

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Instead, he received this notice from the postmaster to move his mailbox into a cluster box unit or a group mailbox.

Dale Farnsworth is another resident. He said, “You have residents who have to walk up to 300 feet length of a football field, up a hill. It’s raised pavement, okay, so there’s a stumbling hazard associated with every time they go to the mailbox.”

But even with a cluster box, Barbara Schonderlmaier says the mail isn’t getting to everyone.

“I checked with everyone on my street and they were not getting mail. The two houses on Kirsten that are in that same clump of mailboxes are getting mail,” she said.

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Farnsworth says it’s not that simple to build one.

“The lots are privately owned and the roads belong to the county so who’s supposed to install the cbu [cluster box unit]? We have no way to do it,” he said.

They have reached out to the post office, the district, and the postmaster but say they aren’t getting anywhere.

Schonderlmaier added, “I feel like we’re being held hostage by the post office. They’re just refusing to listen to anything.”

We reached out to McCormick’s postmaster for a comment. We’re waiting to hear back.

Copyright 2023 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

McCORMICK — How McCormick County operates its water and sewer department remains a contentious issue among some area residents.

The county entered into a six-month private/public partnership contract with Clear Water Solutions on Oct. 1 for management of the county’s sewer and water department. County Council earlier approved for council Administrator Columbus Stephens to sign the no-bid contract. Council has the option at the end of the initial contract to extend it to five years.

Stephens has maintained that administrative contracts do not require a government entity to go through a bidding process, and has said no public hearing was required.

Some residents have questioned how the process was handled, and at Tuesday night’s council meeting, resident George Selfridge called for the county to immediately suspend the agreement and seek new bids. He questioned what CWS has provided for repairs and maintenance work, the necessity of certain training sessions he said could be offered for free, and the handling of work orders and the response to leaks, such as one in Modoc Shores.

“What CWS has not done is bring in any of CWS’ promised resources to help get under control the huge backlog of work orders,” Selfridge said.

Project manager Jeremy Sponseller and Clear Water CEO Steve Cawood told council there remain 22 outstanding work orders, with more than 380 completed since Oct. 1.

“Since the contract date, all the repairs and work orders have been completed by the existing county employees and not a single additional CWS resource,” Selfridge said. “We believe this fact alone belies Mr. Stephens’ assertion that the backlog of work orders had reached such a critical situation that it justified entering into an emergency no-bid contract with CWS.”

During Cawood’s presentation of the company’s master plan, council members asked CWS to provide more detailed reports during future meetings. CWS representatives have provided updates during each monthly meeting since the start of the contract period.

During the presentation, council member Chuck Cook and Vice Chairman Bernard Hamby asked questions about CWS’ plans. Cawood said CWS would like to see a new water tower built in Savannah Lakes Village to address the concerns Cook expressed about low water pressure there.

Cook suggested CWS look at public land for the potential location of the tower because, he said, private property owners might balk at the idea of having a tower close to homesites. Cawood assured Cook that any such tower would fit seamlessly into the architectural themes of SLV.

Stephens clarified that CWS is using only budgeted funds for anything it has done or plans to do, and that the purse strings for the department reside fully with council.

In other business, council:

Received a clean audit opinion from accounting firm Manley Garvin. The county’s budgeted expenses compared to actual expenses were within 1% for the fiscal year ending June 30. “Not many municipalities I’ve been to have been that close,” Manley Garvin’s David McAlister said. “Overall, this is a good, clean audit with a positive change in fund balance.”

Approved the designation of $1.356 million in ARPA funds for projects including the North EMS Substation construction, fire services, road infrastructure, the McCormick Arts Council, water and sewer, and HVAC.

Approved resolutions accepting Jacob’s Way, Rough Lane and Easter Lane into the county road maintenance systems.

Authorized Stephens to sign an Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) request for military assistance application, which is needed for grading work at the county airport.

Authorized Stephens to sign the project application for airport grading coordination and environmental services. The airport is a general aviation facility that operates on visual flight rules as a daytime-only airstrip. The county has entered into a project to transition to a fully operational general aviation airport. The grading project will improve safety zones and prepare for construction of a parallel taxiway, new tarmac and tiedown area, hangar complex, terminal and parking, and a fuel farm.

Tabled a measure that would authorize Stephens to issue a notice to proceed to Spratlin & Sons for the construction of the North EMS Substation for $875,000. Cook raised concerns about not having enough time to review the contract. Stephens said the deferment would not delay the project and that the matter would be readdressed at a future meeting.

Authorized Stephens to enter into memorandum of understanding with the state Department of Veterans Affairs for permission to use the county platform at no cost to send and receive client referrals.

Authorized Stephens to release $50,739 of capital project sales tax funds to the McCormick Arts Council (MACK) for safety renovations.

A new batch of college graduates has finished another leg of their journey.

Piedmont Technical College had 415 graduates walk across the stage on Thursday across two ceremonies.

“Today is a life-changing day,” Piedmont Tech President Hope Rivers said to the graduates.

“This is your day of achievement. The culmination of what you have worked for, what you have worried about and prayed over. This is the first of many destinations, each of which will carry you another step forward into a life of success and independence. The life that you have dreamed about, the life that you deserve.”

The two graduations had two speakers.

The first was Allysa Hinson, who graduated with an associate in applied science with a welding concentration.

She spoke about how she got to welding by signing up for an elective in high school and her journey from Abbeville High School, through life events like having her son, to graduation.

“Here every single one of us has gone through life with its many ups and downs and sometimes a confusion or maybe even in a daze,” Hinson said.

“Confused on where to go or what to do with the many choices we have. Whether the options present themselves or they remain hidden.”

The second speaker was Ron Millender, who is one of the founders of and chairman of the Greenwood Promise.

Millender spoke about his career, telling a few stories along the way, such as leaving the tags on a brand-new suit for his first day of a job.

He left the graduates with three main points. The first is that being in the right place at the right time is important but be prepared. The second, keep doing the right stuff. Good things will happen, just figure out what the right stuff is. No. 3, let your dreams be bigger than your memories.

If you’re looking for holiday festivities and events without the crowds and chaos of the season, visit South Carolina’s Old 96 District! Encompassing the counties of Abbeville, Edgefield, Greenwood, Laurens, and McCormick, there are so many opportunities to enjoy the upcoming events—you’ll feel like you’re stepping into a small-town holiday movie!

This is one of the most magical times of year in the Old 96 District! Here are some upcoming events you won’t want to miss.

All those festivities making you hungry? We’ve got you covered with yummy eats and seasonal treats in SC’s Old 96 District! Stop by Mill House Pizza and Good Times Brewing in Greenwood, SC to warm up with some brick oven pizza and “Winter Lineup” ales. For a nice dinner in a quaint historic home-turned-restaurant, make a reservation at Old Edgefield Grill in Edgefield, SC. Afterwards, grab a warm cup of coffee at Courthouse Coffee in Laurens, SC, fresh donuts at Mama’s Sweet Shoppe in Due West, SC.

And don’t forget to get your holiday shopping in! Remember holiday shopping in person? Before two-day shipping and lines around the building, holiday shopping used to be a fun time of picking out unique gifts for the whole family and patroning locally owned shops up and down holly-lined main streets. Well, in the Old 96 District, we still have that! Check out our holiday shopping guide for some great inspiration to get you started filling stockings this season.

For a special, one-time experience, shop the December Shopping Market at Cook’s Farm in Edgefield County, SC. Shop produce, gift baskets, arts and crafts, woodworking, handcrafted items, antiques, Christmas decor, local honey, and do all of your Christmas shopping in one place!

Still need more trees and lights? Shop one of the several Christmas tree farms in the region, and consider attending a Tree Lighting Ceremony like the annual event in McCormick—this year, on December 2, 2022.

All this, and lots more to discover, make a weekend out of your trip to the Old 96 District of South Carolina by cozying up at one of our local Bed and Breakfasts! We can’t wait to see you and for you to Discover the Unexpected Wonders of the Old 96 District.