Wedding & Event Venue near Orangeburg, SC

SANTEE, S.C. (WCSC) - South Carolina could be getting its first and only casino in the small town of Santee in Orangeburg County.

Santee Development Corporation’s impact study shows it could bring an economic boom to the small, underdeveloped community.

Santee Development Corporation estimates the development of the casino and resort to bring over 4 million annual visitors from in and out of state. Mega donor Wallace Cheves plans to fund the project off of I-95.

Right now, abandoned buildings that used to be a part of the Santee Outlet Mall in Orangeburg County are where the development would go. They have been sitting for more than a decade.

A recent economic development study shows that the investment in the Santee area would support the underdeveloped Orangeburg community. The study found it would generate over $75 million in annual tax revenue according to Santee Development Corporation. The same study says it would create a total of 4,618 jobs in the state annually.

College of Charleston Professor of Economics Frank Hefner says with a town that small he thinks they’d need to bring in others from outside the community for some of those jobs.

“In that community of that size, where are the people going to come from? And that again could change the dynamics of the community, but that’s true for every community. Growth changes things in a community and that’s going to happen. To a large extent, that corridor has been left behind on economic growth for quite some time and so they need it,” Hefner said.

“In addition to the $1 billion construction cost, independent economic projections estimate an $8 billion impact on South Carolina’s economy within the first 10 years, creating thousands of good-paying jobs, driving tourism and expanding business opportunities for local communities,” Cheves said in a statement.

The Santee Development Corporation said not a dime of public money would be used. There are not any state or county incentives and it would all be privately funded.

In order to make this happen, the group is working with legislators to get a bill passed to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws. Representative Chris Murphy is the lead sponsor. It aims to establish the ‘South Carolina Gaming Commission’ to award casino licenses in certain counties.

If you want to take a closer look at that bill, click here.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WIS) - If a newly filed legislation is passed, South Carolinians will not have to leave the state to visit a casino.

If the bill becomes a law, a $1 billion dollar casino project could move forward in Orangeburg county.

The location for the proposed development would sit at the former Santee outlet shopping center which closed more than 10 years ago and is abandoned just off the I-95 corridor.

The bill is called the I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act, which would allow three counties within the Palmetto state, Orangeburg, Dillion, and Marlboro the ability to build casino resorts.

“I think that if we had more of an economic boost in Santee, the pay would go up, people would be happier and more areas would get the funding that they need,” said Nikole Willis one homeowner who lives by the proposed development site.

The site used to be home to thousands of shoppers looking for bargains.

The site could be home to millions testing their luck at another form of legal gambling to be approved in South Carolina.

“It could really, really be a game-changer,” said house representative Chris Murphy.

Murphy is the lead sponsor of the I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act. Hargues the corridor needs an economic boost, hence the chosen location for the project.

“You would draw a lot of people that right now, that don’t have economic opportunities, don’t have job opportunities in their own counties, but it would be a cental point for them”, said Murphy “have all the confidence in the world that this would be a game changer for this area”.

Murphy said Orangeburg County is considered a tier four county meaning it lacks economic opportunity, a reason some homeowners argue this development could benefit the area.

WIS spoke with several travelers and homeowners near the development to hear what they had to say about the bill and the proposed project.

Nikole Willis said she just recently traveled to North Carolina for a casino trip, and said despite her approval of the project, many of her own neighbors are against it.

“I know there are a lot of people that are against it because its growth and its development but we are never going to grow if we don’t accept these new things”, said Willis.

A spokesperson with the Santee Development Corporation said the casino and resort could bring in nearly 5,000 jobs and a $75 million-dollar annual tax revenue. They expect over four million annual visitors including travelers from out of state.

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Authorities charged a music teacher at Lockett Elementary with assault after allegedly dragging a student by his feet and arm, captured on video.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A music teacher at Lockett Elementary School in Orangeburg County is facing charges after deputies say she dragged a 5-year-old student down a hallway by his feet and arm, authorities said.

According to the Orangeburg County Sheriff's Department, the incident occurred on April 9 and was captured on school surveillance video. An arrest warrant states that a witness reported the child became upset when another student received a treat. The child reportedly began tearing up the music room and hitting the teacher.

Deputies say the teacher, identified as Cadra Salley, allegedly responded by carrying the student by his feet and dragging him by the arm down the hallway to the principal's office. Salley has been charged with assault and third-degree battery.

The Orangeburg County School District confirmed Salley is no longer employed by the district.

In a statement to WLTX, the district said:

“As your questions pertain to a specific incident for which an investigation is currently underway, Orangeburg County School District will not respond at this time. We appreciate your understanding as we work to ensure that all matters are handled thoroughly and appropriately. Please know that the health, safety, and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority, and we remain committed to maintaining safe, supportive, and orderly learning environments across all schools in the district.”

Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association and a longtime teacher, said safety in the classroom is becoming an increasing concern across the state.

"Unfortunately, yes ... we receive too many calls of children that are putting their hands on teachers. The number one concern that our members have right now is discipline in the classroom," East said.

According to Orangeburg County School District policy, when a teacher is assaulted or threatened, staff are required to notify supervisors, involve law enforcement if needed, file written complaints, and take disciplinary action when appropriate.

East explained that in some situations, teachers are trained to use a “clear the classroom” method, removing other students from the room to de-escalate situations involving distressed or aggressive children.

“If a child starts being aggressive or displaying any of these behaviors, the teacher's job is to clear the room to make sure everyone's safe, so they clear the classroom, and then we call for help, and then somebody has to come in and calm down this child that has, you know, become disruptive or aggressive, you know, so hopefully no one gets hurt,” East said.

News 19 reached out to Salley’s lawyer but did not receive a response before publication.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - Thousands of people have been posting on social media to save a restaurant in Orangeburg County.

The Dairy-O restaurant has been in Orangeburg for more than 75 years. It’s one of the few locally-owned fast food restaurants left in the county.

Community members made a social media campaign to save the restaurant after its owner, Tommy Robinson, said the restaurant could be lost due to plans to build a new courthouse right next door.

Robinson’s restaurant could be bought through eminent domain laws, so construction of the courthouse will be in compliance with state regulations for driveway spacing and easements around public buildings.

“They’d made an offer a couple years back,” said Robinson. “I didn’t take the offer. About four months ago, I had a letter of possible eminent domain come in.”

If that happens — the county can purchase the land from the owner at fair market value, but the owner would not get money for the business.

County officials said they originally hoped the courthouse being closer would bring more people to the Dairy-O and added they are now trying to find a solution so this institution can stay.

“At the end of the day, we’re just trying to work this out,” said Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young. “We’ve been in contact with the business owner and council and we’re trying to see if we can come up with a solution. Don’t need any backlash, we’re just trying to do what’s right for the citizens.”

Michael Butler, the mayor of Orangeburg, said the city’s zoning board could issue a variance that would make recommendations for repositioning current plans for the new courthouse.

So far, the mayor says the city has not gotten involved.

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Copyright 2025 WIS. All rights reserved.

A major housing project between Santee and Vance was scaled down after planning hurdles and shifting demand for single-family homes.

ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. — A new housing project is set to transform a 221-acre stretch of land off Old Number Six Highway, located between Santee and Vance, into a residential development. The development will bring 600 new homes to the area.

BRD Land and Investment submitted plans to the county's Planning and Zoning Commission for the project. In 2023, the company had proposed building 700 homes, including around 100 townhomes. However, the county has approved a slightly reduced number of homes, following adjustments by the developer and challenges during the planning process.

Preston McClun, with the county's Zoning and Planning Office, explained that the developer found more interest in single-family homes rather than townhouses and other reasons.

"I believe that they saw more interest for the single-family residential houses and not townhouses, and they also ran into an eagle’s nest back up the property that they had to lose a couple of lots for," McClun said.

Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said that the county is poised for continued growth, and housing development is necessary to accommodate future needs.

“Charleston, Summerville, Dorchester, and all those areas have seen explosions and growth to the point that the price going in the land is, and the availability of it, is in short supply. " Young said. "At the end of the day, Orangeburg County has 1,100 square miles and a lot of rural territory that's undeveloped, so the developers have seen that if they come to Orangeburg County, they can find the right price point for the land as well as the land to do development.”

McClun explained that before a subdivision can be approved, it must meet all county ordinances, zoning requirements, and engineering and permitting standards.

“So, the only time a subdivision is approved by the counties is if it meets all minimum standards of county ordinances, including the zoning ordinance and the subdivision land regulations," McClun said. "If the developer is able to show that they meet all engineering requirements, permitting requirements, and the property is suitable for it, like zoning allows for it, they will have their subdivision approved.”

News 19 also reached out to the developer for comment but did not hear back before our deadline.