Wedding & Event Venue Near Walterboro, SC.

WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCBD) – Community members are concerned about a new ministry that is set to open in the Walterboro area.

Shield Ministries, an organization that claims to help convicted sex offenders rehabilitate and re-enter society, will open its doors off Barracada Road near Highway 17-A.

About 50 men could be housed at the property at any given time as the first phase of their three-phase program to help the men improve their lives.

“Shield Ministries is an organization that works to help men transition from the devastation of their past into a thriving future,” explained David Truluck, executive director for Shield Ministries.

But those who live nearby say they are concerned about having sex offenders so close to their homes, children, and grandchildren.

“I’ve lived here for 35 years. I love Walterboro. I love the community,” said neighbor Lisa Langdale.

Langdale is worried about what is going in at this old church site in her rural neighborhood. “I’m just really concerned about living in the neighborhood, for our children, and living in the neighborhood even for myself,” she said.

She’s even part of a new Facebook group that has gained more than 600 followers.

“What do you say to people who maybe they live nearby, they have children or grandchildren at their house, and they’re concerned? What would you say to them,” we asked Truluck.

“Well, we have been a big asset to the community. When you look at our history, we have great relationships with law enforcement agencies,” Truluck replied.

There is also concern about Truluck, personally, because he is a registered sex offender.

“I believe the offense was committ or attempt a lewd act on a child. Do you understand why people might be concerned about an organization that you’re leading being right there in their neighborhood as well,” News 2 asked.

“I do understand why they would be concerned about that, but one of the things I would like to communicate to them is, I’ve been through the process of healing I’ve been through court-ordered counseling, which we will be providing,” he replied.

When asked if he could guarantee that none of the men in the program would bring harm to anyone in the community, Truluck said “I don’t think we could give that type of guarantee,” but cited the program’s “zero percent recidivism” rate.

A community meeting geared toward showcasing the proposal will take place Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. across from Tractor Supply on Bells Highway in Walterboro.

Leaders with Shield Ministries say they are in the process of getting the property ready to open, however, they do not have a specific opening date at this time.

A few weeks ago, I took up for the city of Walterboro, South Carolina after its leaders got some grief over their preparations for ‘Murdaughpalooza’ – a.k.a. the double homicide trial of accused killer Alex Murdaugh.

In case you missed that report, a vocal minority covering this trial are apparently upset with Walterboro’s leaders for wanting to provide the throng of people descending upon their city over the next few weeks with additional dining options (including food trucks).

The horror, right?

Imagine people needing to eat …

In rebuking these critics, I noted how our trial producer Ashleigh Messervy (whom you can read more about in this post) had been busy working up several segments for a report on how Walterboro – a.k.a. the “Front Porch of the Lowcountry” – was preparing for the ‘Murdaughpalooza’ influx.

*****

*****

Messervy sat down with Colleton County clerk of court Becky Hill and city tourism and downtown development director Scott Grooms – the “Murdaughpalooza’ organizers – to hear more about their plans for hosting an O.J. Simpson-sized trial in a town of less than 6,000 people.

For months, Hill and Grooms have been working around-the-clock on multiple fronts to make sure both the city and the courthouse were ready for the deluge – and to ensure everyone flocking to Walterboro to catch a glimpse of these historic proceedings knew what to expect.

It has been a Herculean task – a definitional logistical nightmare – but Hill, Grooms and countless other city, court and law enforcement partners working with them have proven themselves more than equal to the task.

Here is Messervy’s report on their preparations for South Carolina’s “trial of the century …”

*****

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.

*****

Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.

*****

*****

WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCIV) — A new halfway house and treatment center coming to Walterboro is concerning those who live near the property.

Shield Ministries plans to use a vacant church campus off Barracada Road near Highway 17-A to help men enrolled in the organization's treatment and reeducation program.

But neighbors say they’re worried because a majority of the men in the program are registered sex offenders.

"We help them transition from the devastation of their past into a thriving future," said David Truluck, the executive director of Shield Ministries.

Shield Ministries said their focus is on reforming and preventing recidivism in men who have dealt with poverty, addiction, and violence.

The non-profit currently has two facilities in North Charleston and plans to open their third.

"We found this facility in Walterboro in Colleton County that was secluded, but not isolated, and would allow us to take these young men out of the environment that consistently contributed to their going back to prison," Truluck said.

In Shield Ministries' 2021 annual report, out of 60 participants, seven graduated the 18-month program.

70 percent of this year’s applicants are registered as sex offenders. Truluck said there will be between 40 to 50 men living at the Walterboro location.

Residents in the neighborhood are concerned about their children’s safety.

"How is it a good idea? Tell me how this benefits us as a county, as a community in any way, shape or form. There's no upside to this. It's not financial for us, not financial for anybody," said Nikki Nettles, a neighborhood resident.

"For them to all be in one place and to have to deal with it all in one place; I just think that's too much of a threat for the community," resident Lisa Langdale said.

Truluck said the men who have graduated the program have a zero-recidivism rate.

Truluck himself is a registered sex offender, something else that concerns residents.

"I worry. We already have a lot of people that walk up and down the road and now we're going to change the dynamics of who it is walking up and down the road, and that really worries me," Nettles said.

Dr. William Burke, the president of Southeastern Assessment, said their first obligation is public safety.

"We will be taking them to work, bringing them back to the facility. If there's any need for them to go into the town, we would take them so they would always be supervised by a ministry staff member," Truluck said.

Dr. Burke said every participant is polygraphed every six months, drug tested at random, and their telephone and internet usage is monitored daily.

If they don't follow protocol, they are kicked out of the program.

"It means that they are arrested, and they are scheduled to go before a probation board and or go before a judge to for them to determine do they go to prison or do they get another chance to back out in public," Dr. Burke said.

Dr. Burke said in order to prevent recidivism, they must provide a place for people to control their behavior.

"We don't want to be a community liability. We want to be a community asset. And we stress accountability and responsibility. And we have we make it clear that the men are going to be held to a high standard. If they do not meet that standard, they will be expelled from our program," Truluck said.

But residents don't want that happening in their backyard, near their children.

"Our plan is to stop this, but if we can't, then what do we do? We have to educate, we have to help each other," Nettles said.

Shield Ministries said they are still in the development stages, so there is no timeline as to when the facility in Walterboro will open.

A community meeting to discuss the halfway house is scheduled for Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. across from tractor supply on Bells Highway in Walterboro.

WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCSC) - Ring camera footage from a Walterboro home appears to show a dog being run over by a U.S. Postal Service driver who did not stop or slow down, a Colleton County woman says.

The dog, Yogi, survived but awaits surgery that could result in his leg being amputated. If not, a BluePearl Pet Hospital in Summerville says because of his poor quality of life, he might have to be euthanized.

“She’s been delivering our mail for over a year,” Paula Gouge, Yogi’s owner, said. “She knows my dogs. She’s pet my dogs before... And I don’t know if she might have given him treats in the past and he was running for a treat.”

BluePearl Pet Hospital says Yogi suffers from a dislocated hip, broken femur and lower spine and internal injuries. The family has been in contact with Officer Suzi Reeves with Colleton County Animal Services, who is handling the case.

“Officer Reeves told me that we did nothing wrong,” Gouge said. “We did not break any laws. We do not have to keep him on a leash.”

Matthew Breen, managing partner of Lowcountry Law, LLC, says the family can decide to sue this driver for negligence and depending on what the solicitor decides, the driver could face charges as high as a hit and run.

“Yes, they might have needed to restrain their animal,” Breen said. “But at the same time... that doesn’t give us an excuse, ‘Well, that dog doesn’t have its leash on and it’s outside the road. I can just run it over and kill it.’”

He says it’s important for pet owners to be diligent.

“You want to make sure that you protected your pet to the greatest extent that you could, and if they’re injured, that you can recover civilly against the wrongdoer who injured your pet,” Breen said.

Reeves says the driver will face at least two citations under the proper care of animals under the Colleton County Code of Ordinances. She says the driver has been identified and she claims she didn’t know she hit the dog.

“He’s only eight and a half years old,” Gouge said. “He’s not done. I just pray that he can get better and be a miracle dog and run around on three legs.”

The Walterboro Postal Service declined to make a comment because the case is under investigation. The postal service Southern Area Corporate Communications says they’re still reviewing the video and gathering additional details about the incident.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Walterboro has been accepted into a state program to revitalize their historic downtown area in hopes of bringing economic success to the community.

Walterboro joins over 30 other communities like Beaufort, Kingstree, and Orangeburg in the Main Street South Carolina network, which aims to address issues that challenge historic commercial districts.

“People who have grown up in this town have seen it gone from a very vibrant, bustling downtown that had pharmacies, restaurants, banks,” Scott Grooms, director of tourism and downtown development for the City of Walterboro said. “I’d love to see downtown just totally populated again with that to where people come downtown to shop and do day to day business.”

Business owners downtown say they love the area’s southern charm and small town feel but agree that some updates would bring in more business.

“I think we have incredible potential I just think we need some help in realizing what all we have,” Jessica Burdick, owner of Twig Boutique, said.

In the coming weeks, Main Street SC will come to Walterboro and bring in a research crew to find out what the city is doing right, and what they could do better, holding meetings with stakeholders, residents, and public officials to find out their vision for downtown. Then, they will assist Walterboro in coming up with strategies to achieve that vision.

“I think it’s gonna bring new business, a lot of potential for a lot of our local people for things different to do, and hopefully some beautification and some buildings that are currently empty, to fill those as well,” Heather Larson, co-owner of Colleton Day Spa, said.

Before the team arrives, the city has posted a survey asking people who live, work, and spend time in Walterboro to share what they think the most pressing issues facing downtown are, what types of businesses they would like to see, and more.

You can find that survey here. You’re encouraged to submit honest feedback about what you would like to see downtown until Jan. 25.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.