Mobile Home Sales in Blenheim, SC

MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Mohawk Flooring’s Oak River Mills is closing its plant in the Blenheim area of Marlboro County this Friday, according to Mohawk Senior Communications Specialist Laura Smith.

Oak River announced last month that it would cease operations at the site on Oct. 6.

Several of the employees at the plant reached out to ABC15 saying they were told Monday that Friday of this week would be their last day.

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The plant has been in the county for more than 60 years and several employees have worked there for more than 40 years.

Mohawk jobs make up 25% of all manufacturing jobs in the county.

Smith released the following statement regarding the earlier closure:

As we continue to work through both this business decision and an ongoing shift in consumer preferences, we have been able to move equipment and complete the centralization process faster than anticipated which has resulted in the adjusted Oak River campus shutdown date. However, we want to be clear that all employees who have not left the company for other positions will continue to be paid at their current rates through the original shut down date of October 6, despite the early closure.

Our Mohawk team conducted a successful local job fair last week and continues to be actively engaged in helping displaced employees find other opportunities, and we will continue to support our team members throughout this process.

The SC Dept. of Employment and Workforce (DEW) and Marlboro County hosted two job fairs last week that included more than 50 employers.

One employee said he attended the job fair and filled out dozens of applications.

He said at this point, he hasn't received any callbacks and is worried about his financial future.

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Another employee said he's thankful they're getting paid through Oct. 6, but he was hoping to be able to work overtime to make extra money heading into unemployment.

Smith said last month they are closing the plant and shifting production to other locations.

She added they're doing all they can to provide as much support as possible to help their people find new careers.

Several employees said they just can't believe this is the end and at this point in their lives, they're not too sure what they'll do to continue to support their families.

MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Mohawk Flooring’s Oak River Mills is closing its plant in the Blenheim area of Marlboro County, according to Marlboro County Administrator Ron Munnerlyn.

Oak River has been in the county for more than 60 years.

“The news of Oak River’s closing was unexpected, especially considering the County Council had just approved new tax incentives for the company in April of this year and at that time there was no indication of plans to close the site. Marlboro County has a long-standing record of assisting Mohawk and even developed a free bus route in 2017 to transport employees to and from the site," said Munnerlyn.

At one time, the plant employed more than 1,000 people. It’s not clear how many people are employed at the factory now.

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Munnerlyn said it is sure to have a major impact on the county’s unemployment rate.

“The county has a high unemployment rate yet almost every company in the county is in need of workers. The Oak River plant is no exception as Mohawk found it difficult to recruit and retain enough employees. This announcement is a wakeup call that all involved must take a hard look at how we train and educate our workforce. We have the numbers of people of working age, but clearly there is a disconnect between those numbers and the need for employees in these companies,” said Munnerlyn.

One of Marlboro County's oldest companies closing after 60+ years

Many people in the community said they’re hoping that the county will bounce back and attract another company that will hire hundreds of workers.

Some employees of the plant said they are set to close in October.

The company announced in a release that operations will stop on Oct. 6.

For decades, the people at Oak River have created the foundation for carpet used in millions of homes across America,” said Katie Engleman, Mohawk’s vice president of human resources. “As we shift production to other locations, we are grateful for and respectful of that legacy. We have developed a well-defined transition plan, which includes assistance for the people at the Bennettsville facility.

Since the 1990s, people at Oak River have seen many changes, all of which were part of ongoing efforts to extend the operations on this campus and to invest in the Bennettsville community,” said Curt Hutchins, president of Mohawk’s residential carpet business. “Oak River continued to operate for almost thirty years after the closure of the carpet plant it was built to support. That speaks to the commitment to excellence of the people at this plant. However, during that same time period, we have also seen significant changes in consumer fiber preferences and manufacturing technology advances, both of which have ultimately directed this business decision.

A release also said they plan to provide as much support as possible to help their people find new careers.

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - More than a month after Hurricane Florence made landfall in the Carolinas, the South Carolina Department of Transportation says that 27 roads remain closed in the Pee Dee.

“There are 27 road closures on primary and secondary routes due to damage or flooding throughout the affected area,” a press release says. “SCDOT is focused on recovery efforts as a result of the damage caused by Hurricane Florence. Crews and contractors continue to make repairs to damaged roadways.

Those roads are:

Chesterfield County:

Bo Melton Loop (S-13-138) S- 138 is closed in both directions from Woodward Mill Road (S-13-159) to McNair Cemetary Rd (L-390).

Buchanan Bridge Road S-243 S- 243 is closed in both directions from S-60 Jackson Campbell to S-644 Campbell.

Davis Rivers Road (S-13-757) S- 757 is closed in both directions from Highway 742 (SC 742) to Sweeney Road (L-274).

Wamble Hill Road (S-13-34) S- 34 is closed in both directions from Hurst Cemetary Lane (L-460) to Redfearn Lane (L-764).

Darlington County:

New Hopewell Road S- 366 is closed in both directions from Sherrills Mill Road to Tol Road.

Dillon County:

Academy St. S- 51 is closed in both directions from Old Magnolia to US-301.

Bakers Mill S- 70 is closed in both directions from S-61 Stateline to SC 57.

McKays''s Bridge S- 429 is closed in both directions from S-828 McNeil Farm to S-192 Judson.

Georgetown County:

Plantersville Rd. S- 52 is closed in both directions from Jackson Village Rd. to Exodus Dr.

Horry County:

SC 905 is closed in both directions from railroad tracks to E. County Club Drive.

Marion County:

Highway 76 US 76 is closed in both directions from Gilchrist Road S-34-309 (Local traffic only) to SC-9 in Nichols.

US 76 US 76 is closed in both directions from Gilchrist Rd to Pee Dee Island Road.

Marlboro County:

Academy Road (NW of McColl) S- 17 is closed in both directions from Adamsville Road S-28 to SC 381.

Billy Wallace Rd/Hairetown Road (N. of Wallace) S- 97 is closed in both directions from Hatcher Hill Road S-203 to White Creek S-406.

Cobb''s Tomb Road S- 167 is closed in both directions from US 15/401.

Coxe Road (N. of Blenheim) S- 29 is closed in both directions from Sandy Grove Road S-350 to Odom Road S-440.

David''s Mill Pond (NW of Bennettsville) S- 33 is closed in both directions from Kennedy Road S-548 to Williamette Road SC 912.

Highway 1 (N. of Wallace) US 1 is closed in both directions from SC 9 to Delta Heights Road S-262.

Highway 381 (South of McColl) SC 381 is closed in both directions from Old McColl-Clio Road S-497 to New Bridge Road S-27.

Hunts Bluff (West of Blenheim) S- 57 is closed in both directions from Gravel Pit Road S-50 to Gravel Pit Road S-50.

Ivey Cemetary Road S- 197 is closed in both directions from S-35-40 Lauris Willis Road to S-35-380 Cottingham Road.

Level Green Church Road (NW of Bennettsville) is closed in both directions from SC 9 to Wafer Road.

S- 400 Odom Road (S. of Bennettsville) S- 440 is closed in both directions from Daniels Lane to Wagon Train Circle.

Old Wire Road (NE of Wallace) S- 165 is closed in both directions from Ebenezer Road S-30 to Aaron Temple Church Road S-257.

Old Wire Road (NE of Wallace) S- 165 is closed in both directions from Kollock Road S-203 to Ebenezer Road S-30.

Pegues Circle (N. of Wallace) S- 267 is closed in both directions from US 1 to Pegues Drive S-266.

The release goes on to say that motorists are urged to obey all road closures in areas effected by flooding and to never move or drive around barricades. Remember: It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters. Turn around, don’t drown!

Copyright 2018 WMBF. All rights reserved.

BLENHEIM, SC (WBTW) – Many parents in Marlboro County are upset over a plan to send students as young as third grade across the county to Marlboro County High School. Those parents were out in force Wednesday night to let district leaders know they’re concerned.

Last week the Marlboro County school board approved a reconfiguration of some grades during a special called meeting.

Those new changes include:

“What we wanna make sure is that we’re maximizing our facilities that our in fair to good shape,” said Superintendent Dr. Helena Tillar.

Dr. Tillar took questions from parents who said they weren’t so sure about sending their young students to a high school setting.

“We’ve taken a look at every option possible based on recommendations that we’ve received from advanceED, our accreditation team, as well as the team that came from the state level to look at our facilities,” Tillar explained.

Tillar said the aging buildings in the school district–some 60 to nearly 100 years old–have recurring problems with mold and water damage and present a health risk to students and staff.

“We’re trying to make sure we’re placing every child in our district in the very best facilities that we have,” said Tillar.

Dr. Tillar said the 480 3rd through 5th graders will be in a separate wing of the high school, so parents shouldn’t be afraid of younger children being around older students.

“We have very good teachers, we have a very good administrative team that knows how to make sure that our younger students stay separate from our older students,” Dr. Tillar explained.

Teacher Kireem Liles agrees with the plan.

“I don’t think there would be that many problems,” Liles said. “I think there would be more problems if they tried to move the middle-schoolers up because they’re closer in age, some high-schoolers might fight them.”

Many at the meeting Wednesday night were mostly upset that the board passed the decision and then went to get community input afterward. Board members on hand said they wished every meeting got as much attention, and encouraged parents to get more involved moving forward.

Dr. Tillar said this arrangement is likely temporary until the proper repairs can be made to the buildings.

MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — As of Tuesday, 151 students and eight teachers at Blenheim Middle School of Discovery are under quarantine after 18 students, including two teachers, have tested positive for coronavirus, according to information from a Facebook live from Blenheim School of Discovery Principal Dr. Dionne Vance.

Marlboro County School District Superintendent Dr. Gregory McCord said they had to quarantine about 20 more students Monday night on the recommendation of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Vance said they're following the protocols of DHEC and the CDC.

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The school's nurse said they're reinforcing the mask policy, encouraging students to wear their mask properly, along with frequently washing their hands and social distancing.

Some parents are upset and calling for the district to shutdown the school until they can get things under control.

McCord said they're not going to close school because they want to continue providing academic resources for students who may have little to no access to the internet.

He added they also want to continue to provide meals for students.

McCord said he truly believes school is a safe place for students.

He added that’s why it’s important for students and staff members to continue to wear masks.

McCord talked with ABC15 last Thursday after South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said in a tweet that parents should not be forced to make their children wear masks in school.

McMaster's twitter page reads, "It is ridiculous for school districts to tell parents whether or not their child should wear a mask in the classroom, that is up to the parent. Every teacher has had the opportunity to get vaccinated and are safe from the virus. It’s time to unmask our children."

McCord said last week the virus is still being spread in communities and to abandon masks at this point wouldn’t be a wise decision.

We are still dealing with cases here in there. I think the choice to be vaccinated is up to the individual I don’t want anyone to feel as though they’re being bullied to do something that they’re not fundamentally deserving to do. I’m very thankful that our staff has been patient and supportive of our protocols in place and we will continue to follow them through the remainder of the year,” said McCord.

He said students will be quarantined for 10 days.

They're set to return to school next Monday.

Some parents said they plan to have their children tested and will allow them to return to school based on their test results.

School officials urge you to keep your child home if they're not feeling well.

They also urge you to call the school with questions for visit the school district's website to learn how the district is monitoring and handling the situation.