Wedding & Event Venue Near Walterboro, SC.

For The Press and Standard

Zoe Buckner, Jada Christian, Abe Greene, Shawn Jacques and Niquee Agina were selected for the 2023 the South Carolina Band Directors Association Region Honor Band. This is the highest individual honor a band member can earn. Students auditioned in January against hundreds of other Lowcountry schools for positions in the honor bands. These students will attend the SCBDA Region Honor Band Clinic February 17-18 and will perform a free concert at Summers Corner Performing Arts Center in Summerville.

On February 8th, junior Band of Blue trumpeter Abe Greene attended the Burke High School College Band Scholarship Fair. Band members from all over the lowcountry met and auditioned for band scholarships with several HBCU Band programs from Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina.

Band of Blue members Ally Stephens and Derek Oliver attended the University of South Carolina Band Clinic in Columbia February 10-12th The USC Band Clinic, in its 45th year, hosts over 400 of the finest high school wind and percussion students from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia and Florida. The goal of the clinic is to expose students to outstanding clinicians, concerts, and master classes. Students also attended several concerts on campus at the Koger Center for the Arts.

The Band of Blue Winter Guard and Winter Percussion performed at the CWEA Premier at White Knoll High School this past Saturday, February 11th. The Varsity Winter Guard presented their show «Here and There» with music by Enya and from the movie «The Piano» The Varsity Winter Guard placed 2nd in their round and 7th overall out of 13 groups in the AAA Division. The Band of Blue Winter Percussion premiered their show «Wonderland» based off the story of Alice in Wonderland. The CCHS Winter Percussion placed 2nd out of 6 six groups in the Percussion Novice Division.

Up next for the Band of Blue, the BIG BLUE Jazz Band will perform at the 2023 Jazz Performance Assessment at Newberry College on Saturday, March 4th at 6pm.

The Winter Guard and Winter Percussion will travel and compete at River Bluff High School, March 11th and to Byrnes High School on March 18th. The Band of Blue Concert/Symphonic Band will perform at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment, Thursday, March 16th at James Island High School at 11am. The band will perform in Class IV. The CCMS Middle School Band will perform at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment, Tuesday, March 21st at Rollins School of the Arts in Summerville at 9am..

The Band of Blue, Big Blue Jazz Band, CCMS Middle School Band and the CCHS Winter Percussion and Varsity Winter Guard will present our annual Spring Concert, Sunday, March 26th at 4pm. Admission to the concert is $2.

The Varsity Winter Guard will finish their season at the CWEA Championships in Rock Hill on April 1st and the Band of Blue Winter Percussionwill conclude their season on April 15th.

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.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Boise Cascade Company (Boise Cascade), a leading manufacturer and distributor for building materials, today announced plans to expand its South Carolina operations with a new facility in Colleton County. The company’s $9 million investment will create 30 new jobs.

A Fortune 500 company with over 55 locations and 6,800 employees nationwide, the Colleton County facility marks Boise Cascade’s first distribution location and second facility in South Carolina. Its existing South Carolina facility is in Chester.

Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Boise Cascade serves residential and industrial construction retail yards, manufacturing wood products and distributing wholesale building materials across North America. This new facility will expand the company’s footprint in South Carolina and on the East Coast.

Located at 157 Risher Mountain Tower Road in Walterboro, Boise Cascade’s new Colleton County facility will increase the company’s distribution capacity with direct access to the Palmetto Railways Salkehatchie Subdivision rail line, connecting Boise Cascade to the national freight rail network.

Individuals interested in joining the Boise Cascade team should visit the company’s careers website.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. A $200,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) grant was also awarded to Colleton County to assist with the costs of site preparation and infrastructure improvements.

QUOTES

“We are excited to be planning a branch location in Colleton County. This investment demonstrates our commitment to a terrific customer base in a growing market.” -Boise Cascade Company Building Materials Division Executive Vice President Jeff Strom

“It’s a great day when a company chooses to expand within South Carolina, and we are particularly proud that Boise Cascade Company has chosen yet another community within which to grow. We appreciate Boise Cascade’s commitment to South Carolina and look forward to building our relationship for many years to come.”-Gov. Henry McMaster

“Congratulations to Boise Cascade Company, as it expands in another South Carolina location. Our state’s rural communities are producing and distributing products from some of the world’s most trusted companies, and we’re excited that the Walterboro community can add Boise Cascade to that roster. We look forward to supporting the company’s continued growth within South Carolina.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“I am happy to announce that Boise Cascade is opening a facility here in Colleton County that is expected to create 30 new jobs in the lumber distribution industry. We are particularly excited that this will be the first of hopefully many projects to utilize the revamped rail system in Colleton County. We welcome the investment by this Fortune 500 company in our community, and we look forward to working with them.”-Colleton County Council Chairman Steve Murdaugh

“SouthernCarolina Alliance welcomes Boise Cascade to our region of South Carolina. We appreciate both the direct and indirect jobs that this operation will bring to our robust wood products sector, and we congratulate Colleton County on this exciting announcement, which will benefit from Colleton’s workforce and strategic location.” -SouthernCarolina Regional Development Alliance Chairman Marty Sauls

“Palmetto Railways appreciates the opportunity to collaborate with Boise Cascade, Colleton County and SouthernCarolina Alliance to fulfill the rail infrastructure and logistics needs of another South Carolina business. We look forward to seeing the continued success and service of the Salkehatchie Subdivision line, a testament to the power of rail connections within South Carolina communities.”-Palmetto Railways President and Chief Executive Officer Patrick McCrory

FIVE FAST FACTS

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.

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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 …”

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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.

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According to the Standard Encyclopedia of Philosophy, friendship is a distinctively personal relationship that is grounded in a concern on the part of each friend for the welfare of the other and for the other’s sake. There is a strong degree of closeness between the two individuals. Within a friendship, there are good times and not-so-good times. However, if the friendship is real, there is nothing and no one who can break it. Proverbs 17:17 (ESV) affirms, “A friend loves at all times... In other words, a real friend doesn’t shift back and forth on you because of varying situations that may evolve. A friend is not one who only comes around in “fair weather.” Therefore, real friendship is priceless, no matter “the weather.”

Friends sometimes fall out with one another or separate because of differing opinions in religion, politics, lifestyles, acceptance of new friends, and the list grows. Real friendship is not to be taken lightly or for granted. If you are a friend today, then you are a friend tomorrow, in spite of any differences. “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13 ESV). If someone whom you thought was a friend just “disappears into thin air,” treats you as if you don’t exist, or acts as if he/she doesn’t know you around certain people, then you must realize that person was never your friend. There is a difference between someone’s knowing you for convenience sake, rather than as a real friend. Someone whose friendship is not real will manifest itself sooner or later. Even though it may hurt you once revealed, be thankful that you found out because it could be more devastating later on down the road. Further, if you want others to be a real friend to you, be sure that you show yourself as a real friend.

Before bringing this message to a close, let me share this thought-provoking illustration, “The Friend Inside.” “Throughout his administration, Abraham Lincoln was a president under fire, especially during the scarring years of the Civil War. Though he knew he would make errors in office, he resolved never to compromise his integrity. So strong was this resolve that he once said, ‘I desire so to conduct the affairs of this administration that if at the end, when I come to lay down the reins of power, I have lost every other friend on earth, I shall at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be down inside of me’” (Ministry 127).

Always abound in the faith, and never leave home without Him!

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