Mobile Home Sales in Cades, SC

Dear MUSC family,

Happy 2023! It’s hard to believe we’re that we’re almost through the first month of the new year. I hope that you and your loved ones were able to enjoy the holiday season; as for the Cole household, we enjoyed celebrating Christmas with several days of organized family chaos – think National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation with a lot of dogs.

Traditionally, the new year brings resolutions, most related to health and wellness, continuing good practices previously adopted or to accomplishing some type of personal goal. We all know that most of these resolutions have a very short half-life and are found discarded off to the side of the road by the time we hit Valentines Day. It has been suggested that, aside from human nature, part of the problem is that most New Year’s resolutions are too big or vague. To combat this tendency, I have been told that we should focus on setting SMART goals for ourselves: SMART = Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Realistic. Timely. With that in mind, I’ll share with you a SMART goal I’ve set for myself:

Dave Coles New Year’s SMART goal resolution is to: Support My wife And so Remain intact… wish me luck.

As we struggle with the yearly dilemma of challenging resolutions, I might suggest that perhaps a better approach would be to celebrate 2022 and turn forward to embrace the possibilities of the new year.

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." – Socrates

Yours in service,

David J. Cole, M.D., FACS MUSC President

Values in Action

For the seventh year, we are recognizing MUSC employees across the enterprise for their resilience, commitment and leadership with the President’s Values in Action Awards. The awards pay tribute to outstanding people who personify MUSC’s five values: Collaboration, Compassion, Innovation, Integrity, and Respect. All of our awardees in these categories received a recognition memento, a certificate and a $1,000 bonus in appreciation for all they do to live our MUSC values.

And for the third year now, we also honored an individual in a special Values in Action category - the Impact Award. The Impact Award is reserved for those situations in which an individual’s contributions to the institution and/or community they serve goes above and beyond, encompassing all of our MUSC values. This individual also received a special recognition memento and a certificate, along with – new to the program this year – a $5,000 bonus.

Please take a moment to watch this video highlighting the moments when we surprised the winners this year. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll consider nominating someone in your sphere during the 2023 cycle.

Read more about this year's honorees.

Leadership Update: Chief Communications and Marketing Officer

After a national search process, I’m pleased to share that Catherine (Cathie) Cannon has accepted the role of enterprise wide chief communications and marketing officer and will join the organization on Feb. 10.

Cathie comes to MUSC from the University of Connecticut, UConn Health system, where she served as the assistant vice president for health marketing, and with substantial experience developing strategic marketing plans, guiding communications work (internal/external), and translating insights into action through digital marketing and process improvement strategies. She offers MUSC a strong, collaborative mindset and understands the numerous demands and priorities that require communication efforts across the enterprise.

Cathie earned her master’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, and two certificates in leadership and business analytics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Please join me in welcoming Cathie to MUSC in the days ahead and whenever appropriate, please offer your support as she gets to know our complex and ever-evolving organization.

MUSC Health Black River Medical Center – we’re open!

As noted in a Jan. 17 press release, “Southern Florence and Williamsburg County residents took a giant leap forward in obtaining unrivaled health care services with the opening of MUSC Health Black River Medical Center in Cades, SC.”

With the help of incredible public-private partnerships and by actively listening to what these communities needed, this hospital replaces Williamsburg Regional Hospital in Kingstree and Lake City Community Hospital and is part of the MUSC Health-Florence Division. Our teams have worked diligently on this project since before the groundbreaking in January of 2021 so that the community could have an intentional transition to the new facility. The result is a rural hospital that is unparalleled in South Carolina, and, I might venture, a definitively innovative solution to the many and complex issues facing rural hospitals all over the nation.

I’m particularly proud of the hard work that our Florence division leadership and human resources teams conducted to ensure that approximately 90% of current employees and providers from Lake City and Williamsburg Regional hospitals are now employed at MUSC Health Black River Medical Center or other MUSC facilities in the Florence, Marion, or Charleston areas.

I hope you’ll join me in congratulating our centralized and division teams throughout the organization who brought us to this milestone moment!

Cut to the Chase

In my first post of 2023, I wanted to explore a bit further the significance of the MUSC Health Black River Medical Center in relation to our tripartite mission during this moment in time. To state it clearly, a community without health care is a community without a future.

Take a look at this blog post.

From Kathy

What an amazing new facility! I was able to participate in several wonderful events just before the new MUSC Health Black River Medical Center opened about a week and a half ago and I have to tell you, the excitement, enthusiasm and engagement of the team was palpable. This hospital is going to provide tremendous opportunities for these communities to receive world-class care where they live and work, and there’s just no beating that.

A special thank you goes out to Jay Hinesley, Florence Division CEO; Allen Abernathy, Black River executive director, and Costa Cockfield, chief nursing officer, for their leadership, talent and hospitality and a heartfelt congratulations to all who worked so hard on this project and who will serve these communities in the years to come.

#ICYMI

Robot Olympics: Playing “serious” games can be an effective and engaging way to teach teamwork and other skills to robotic surgery teams.

Marijuana Microbiome: MUSC researchers and their collaborators will explore how cannabis smoking alters the bacterial communities in the mouth and how those changes affect the brain.

COVID Update: “The data is speaking. It's saying, we're probably at a point where it would make sense for people to take precautions for a short period of time.”

Having a Fit: In this month's "Trust Me, I Know a Doctor," Bryce tackles his new year's resolution: getting more exercise. He might have his work cut out for him.

Surgical Innovation: Schiller Surgical Innovation Center embraces AI to enhance decision-making and improve outcomes.

Safety Culture: J. Scott Broome, CEO of MUSC Health-Lancaster Division, was named the Drive to Zero Harm Leadership Award winner.

Academic Inventor: Anand Mehta, D.Phil., has been named a fellow of the National Academy of Inventors, the highest distinction awarded to academic inventors.

Heart-Stopping Moment: Cardiologist talks about football player’s on-field collapse, including possible cause and what has to happen in a case like that to save a life.

Cancer & COVID: Although their immune systems have trouble producing antibodies on their own, a monoclonal antibody protected blood cancer patients from severe COVID.

Hearing in Autism: A multidisciplinary team of MUSC researchers uncovers hearing impairment in a novel preclinical model of autism.

Living with Loss: The average lung cancer patient is a 71-year-old man. Kelly Bulak was far from the average. Her parents are still grappling with her death from this disease.

New Insights from Cell Soup: Medical University of South Carolina researchers show how DNA is packed away when it needs to be turned off.

Stronger Together: MUSC researchers develop a new inhibitor and test its effects when used together with an existing anti-cancer therapy in neuroblastoma.

Clinical Trials: Clinical trials coordinator Alexandria Green falls in love with all of her patients. But she's formed a particularly strong bond with one in particular.

CADES COVE, Tenn. (WATE) — Fire managers and park staff are getting ready to burn 1,200 acres in Cades Cove.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Appalachian Piedmont Coastal Fire Management Zone staff will work together to ensure the prescribed burn stays controlled. Burn operations are currently planned for Thursday, November 3 and Friday, November 4, weather permitting.

Park Staff plans to closely monitor soil moisture, wind speed and direction, temperature, and relative humidity to make sure conditions meet the burn plan objectives. The Park Staff adds the rain expected over the next few weeks to “improve the opportunity for prescription parameters to be met.”

“Appalachian Piedmont Coastal Zone Fire Staff are excited to lead prescribed burn operations in Cades Cove this year to meet field restoration goals in the Smokies,” said Fire Management Officer Brian Tonihka. “Notably, we will be using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) in ignition operations for the burns, which will be a first for the National Park Service in the Southeast region. This new technology provides a great opportunity to improve efficiency and operational safety.”

Visitors to Cades Cove should expect to see firefighters along Sparks Lane, Hyatt Lane, and the Cades Cove Loop Road. On Nov. 3, Abrams Falls Trail and the road leading to the trailhead will be closed. Park officials expect it to be fully open the next day.

On Nov. 4, crews will burn along Sparks Lane, which could require temporary closures throughout the day. The loop road and historic structures will stay open, but visitors should expect brief delays during burn operations.

The areas where burns are planned can be seen on the map below: Cable House, 97 acres; Cemetery Marsh, 291 acres; Tipton Oliver, 257 acres; Maple Branch, 377 acres; Sparks, 164 acres; and Martha’s Branch, 17 acres.

Smoke and fire activity will be visible during the burn. Fire managers also ask motorists to slow down in work zones, but not stop on the roadways. If there is smoke, motorists are asked to roll up their windows and turn on their headlights.

According to Park Staff, controlled burns help maintain native plant species that provide cover and foraging opportunities for wildlife, including deer, turkeys, and ground-nesting birds. Burns have been conducted during the spring and fall over the last 20 years to reduce fuels, restore meadows, and maintain the historic landscape of Cades Cove. For more information on burns in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, click here.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story has been updated with the planned dates of the burn.

In a press conference held earlier this week at Kingstree Town Hall, community leaders such as Rep. Roger Kirby and Williamsburg County Supervisor Dr. Tiffany Cooks joined local business owners and church officials to announce an evening planned in honor of Dr. Herman Gibson, Jr., that will be held on Saturday, May 21 at 7:00 pm in Kingstree. Donald Gilliard of Sweet Gilliard Productions announced that his production of James Weldon Johnson’s God’s Trombones is returning to Williamsburg for a performance designed to honor and celebrate the life and leadership of Dr. Gibson.

Gilliard opened the press conference by reminding the audience, “Dr. Gibson has pastored churches in Williamsburg County, South Carolina for 50 years!” And, “because of Gibson’s commitment to the people of this area, we have all come together to honor him.” Gilliard explained, “Dr. Gibson has been preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ for half of a century at Cedar Grove, Ranzie Grove, and Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Churches in Williamsburg County. During this time, he has shown true loyalty, demonstrated exemplary leadership, and exhibited Christian love for all. Therefore, in his honor, we will be celebrating ‘The Legacy of Dr. Herman Gibson, Jr. . . . Fifty Years of Loyalty, Leadership and Love’ on Saturday, May 21, 2022, at the Alex Chatman Complex – Auditorium (147 West Main Street) in Kingstree, South Carolina,”.

This celebratory evening is being underwritten in part by The Parham Law Firm, LLC., who is the corporate sponsor. It will feature James Weldon Johnson’s God’s Trombones, Seven Negro Sermons in Verse delivered by Bishop James Graham of True Word of Faith Worship Center in Cades, SC, Rev. Quinton Graham of White Chapel Freewill Holiness Church in Johnsonville, SC, Rev. Trevon McClary of Freedom Worship Center also of Cades, Rev. Terry Law of Siloam Missionary Baptist Church in Kingstree, SC, Rev. Ernest Frierson of Mechanicsville UMC in Sumter, SC, Rev. Sallie Lakin of Glory Temple Worship Center in Columbia, SC, Rev. Herbert Godwin of Word of God Outreach Ministries in Lake City, SC and Rev. Nathaniel Wilson of New Jerusalem Baptist Church also in Lake City, SC. These pastors will lead a cast that also includes ten trombonists and a 40-member choir. Gilliard’s production of God’s Trombones is an insightful, historical depiction of the power and importance of ministry that you don’t want to miss!

Bishop James Graham, who is featured in the production, also attended the press conference. He encouraged his church members and the community at large to join them in recognizing Dr. Gibson. “Indeed, this is truly a fitting tribute for an extraordinary minister of the Gospel,” said Bishop Graham. “Please join us in recognizing this man of God who has been such a blessing to his congregations, community, and this state.”

Additional sponsors for this event include Senator Ronnie Sabb, Attorney Gerald Malloy, Attorney Bakari Sellars, The Battle Law Firm, LLC of Conway, The City of Kingstree and Wildes Financial Strategies of Georgetown. Anyone interested in additional information regarding event sponsorships and advertisement within the program souvenir journal may contact Donald Gilliard at 843.240.0432 or email at: gilliarddonald@gmail.com. Individual tickets for the event are on sale now.

For more information regarding this event, please contact Donald Gilliard at 843.240.0432 or email at: gilliarddonald@gmail.com.

We often like to say, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But when it comes to building better saving habits, both young and old can easily learn some new “tricks” that will help them take control of their finances.

February 27 through March 3 is America Saves Week, an annual celebration that encourages individuals to become financially confident by examining their saving habits and setting saving goals. It’s the perfect time to start - or restart - a saving journey. Whether your goals are short-term, such as paying for a vacation, or long-term, such as financing retirement, you’ll find it’s never too late or too early to begin saving.

This America Saves Week, try following these simple tips and tricks to get on the path to finding your own financial confidence in 2023.

1. Saving Automatically

While there’s no magic formula to saving, there are ways to make it easier. By setting up automatic savings, you help ensure that you are contributing a dedicated amount of money on a regular basis, making it easier for you to be consistent. To set up automatic savings, direct your bank, credit union or financial institution to automatically transfer money into your savings account. You’ll save without having to lift a finger – almost like magic.

2. Paying Down Debt is Saving

Whether it takes the form of credit cards, student loans or other installment loans, debt is like the annoying fly that won’t leave us alone. But did you know that paying down debt is, in fact, saving? As you pay off your debt, you’re able to free up money and direct those funds towards more exciting parts of your life – a new car, retirement or even an emergency fund. You can try one of these two main strategies to pay off your debt:

• The Snowball Method: Focus on the balance of each loan and make the minimum payment on all your loans except the one with the smallest balance. Try to put as much money as you can towards it and eventually, you’ll pay off the entirety of it. Then, move on to the next smallest balance and repeat the process.

• The Avalanche Method: Focus on the interest rate of each loan and make the minimum payment on all your loans except the one with the highest interest rate. Put as much money as possible toward that loan. This method reduces the overall amount of interest you must pay across all your loans.

3. Prioritize your Major Milestones

Saving for your first home, education or retirement can be overwhelming. But don’t fret – you can make these major milestones more manageable by deciding which goal is most important to you and getting started saving for that goal. Use your milestone goal to guide your savings plans and know that it’s okay for your priorities to change. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution to saving for a major milestone, but prioritizing your goals helps to make them more manageable.

Begin the Journey

A recent study by New York Life reports that American adults who feel confident in their finances list “having savings” as the top contributing factor. Building your own savings to achieve financial confidence is best viewed as a journey with consistent contributions leading you to your goal. That’s why this America Saves Week, I encourage you to commit to taking the most important step of your savings journey: getting started.

About the author: Curtis Loftis is the State Treasurer of South Carolina. He also serves as the administrator of South Carolina’s Future Scholar 529 College Savings Plan. Visit treasurer.sc.gov or futurescholar.com for more information on ways to save through a 529 plan.

TOWNSEND, Tenn. (WATE) — A giant duck in Townsend has left some people confused. The duck appeared at the Cades Cove Jeep Outpost where the Jeeps Takeover Townsend event is happening from August 25-28.

A picture of the giant duck was shared on a Facebook group, where many quickly responded that the duck was a part of the event happening at the Jeep Outpost and that rubber ducks are associated with jeeps for a special reason.

“Jeep Ducking began in Ontario in 2020 during COVID when a Jeep owner decided to do something to brighten both her and a stranger’s day. She went and bought a rubber ducky, and put the duck on a nearby Jeep. Ducking simply refers to placing a rubber ducky on another Jeep they like.” one Facebook user wrote.

Others shared that it can be a way for jeep fanatics to share with another jeep owner that they have a nice ride.

Allison Parliament started Jeep Ducking, according to cartalk.com, as a simple joke with her friend, but the ducking went viral and Parliament became a celebrity of sorts.

The game of delightful surprise has gotten large enough that a Facebook group designated to the ducking fun was created, called Duck Duck Jeep, and it now has over 49,000 members. Other groups have been made since for more localized areas, including some for Tennessee.

The ducks can range from simple, classic, yellow rubber ducks to much more elaborate ducks with creative themes.

Some duck jeep players have even gone as far as to track where jeeps have been ducked on a Ducked Jeeps Locator map.

The Jeep invasion ends on Sunday but those looking to meet the person who started it all should plan to attend the event on Friday. From 12-3 p.m. There will be a meet and greet with Duck Duck Jeep founder Allison Parliament.

Tom Riley, a 70-year-old resident of Townsend, might be the only person who loves bear jams in Cades Cove — the traffic backups that occur anytime visitors spot a bear and jam on the brakes to get a better look.

For one, he’s walking, not driving, so the traffic stalls have no real effect on him or his ability to get around.

But the real reason he welcomes the interruptions is his outgoing nature, for Riley so enjoys meeting people along his walk. With heads poked out car windows and others who step outside, it’s an occasion to converse with people from all over the world. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is after all the most visited national park in the country.

And as the years have gone by, many visitors have taken notice of Riley as he navigates the 11-mile Cades Cove loop. He started out doing it in early 2015 and said he walked an average of 250 to 275 days that year. His record was 27 straight days of traversing the scenic terrain where one day he might end up watching multiple deer feed in a field or spot momma bear and her cubs just passing through.

“Even though I have walked the Cove, sometimes doing eight miles but usually the whole loop, at least 2,000 times, it is always different there,” Riley explained. “It is so tremendously peaceful there when I get started before the Cove officially opens when I have it all to myself.”

The miles have certainly added up. Riley said he has now logged more than 18,000 walking miles in Cades Cove and he’s just getting started. He estimates he’s out there taking in nature’s beauty along the loop at least 300 days of the year.

“I tell people I want to be 101 and still walking it, even if I am on a walker,” he said.

A native of West Virginia, Riley moved here about 10 years ago after enjoying a 21-year career in the U.S. Navy and then teaching history at Baylor University. He said he first visited here in 1974 and just couldn’t stay away.

He’s in the Park at least six days a week and is currently a volunteer who walks the Cove with a Park radio to report any incidents. Why not? He has certainly demonstrated he can show up any day of the week, and early. He said he’s walked the loop in snow, sleet, rain and hail.

It’s gotten to the point now that people recognize Riley despite never having met him; that’s the power of social media. But Riley admits he’s not the one posting — he’s not on Facebook or Instagram and only recently got a smart phone. It’s the people he meets who want to share Riley’s story.

“People want to have their picture made with me,” Riley said, a little surprised at first. “I am just the guy who walks the Cove. One woman got out of her car and put her arm around me and said ‘My sister is going to be so jealous.’”

Riley had no idea who she was but gladly posed for the photo.

He describes himself as a people person. His wife still teaches at Baylor University so she lives here only during summers. Long Cades Cove walks are Riley’s social outings.

He doesn’t try to set any records for how long it takes him. Riley said he can usually make it around in three and a half hours.

“On a good day I say it takes me four to four and a half to five miles — that’s when I have lots of people to talk to,” he explained. He’s out there with his backpack and American flag attached.

Cades Cove under a full moon, with an early frost or jam-packed with visitors on a humid July day — this outdoorsman has seen it all. He’s been chased out by rangers as the snow piled up. And he’s been invited to share breakfast by strangers who also love getting to know fellow nature lovers out under the dawn of first light.

One elderly couple visits the Cove frequently and upon spotting Riley out their car window, always hand him an apple. He said he’s been offered beer, wine and other refreshments. He gladly accepts.

His travels in the Navy took him to Spain, Guam, all over the East Coast and to California and Washington. He said the town he grew up in West Virginia had barely 1100 residents, so his Navy career was the chance to see other beautiful locales.

When he ventures beyond the Cades Cove loop, two of his favorite hikes are Mount LeConte and Abrams Falls. There’s nothing like the views while enjoying some trail food.

“The best place for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich is Mount LeConte,” he recommends. “I have explored a lot of places.”

While on his walks, Riley makes it a point to check license plates to learn from whence they came. He said Alabama has the most visitors to Cades Cove outside the locals. He’ll talk with whoever will listen and engage them in conversation.

That he has kept himself in shape means Riley probably will be walking the Coe for several more years. He said there is a volunteer in the park who is 82. Riley was a marathon runner and a long-distance cycler who continues to stay active.

“When they put out the Silver Alert, they will know where to find me,” he said.

His wife wants to continue teaching at Baylor for a few more years before retiring. Riley said he sometimes shows her photos he’s taken and asks, “are you sure you don’t want to retire?’”

In the meantime, he is content to lace up his sneakers six days a week and marvel at what surrounds him in these East Tennessee mountains. One pair of shoes, he said are good for 600 miles. He said trading in West Virginia for Tennessee was a great move on his part.

“West Virginia was almost heaven,” he said, as the popular song by John Denver says. “Tennessee is.”