Mobile Home Sales in Darlington, SC

FLORENCE – Counties in South Carolina’s northeastern region reported more than 1 billion dollars in new investment with over 2,400 jobs created.

“This has been a monumental year of announcements, job creation and developing projects for our region,” said Yancey McGill, a former S.C. lieutenant governor and North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA) executive committee chairman, “We are excited to see the amazing opportunities these announcements provide and the high potential for further growth and development.”

According to NESA – the non-profit regional economic development group serving Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg counties – the region had a record year with over $1.106 billion in new investment in 2022, as well as the creation of 2,440 jobs.

The regional unemployment rate was 3.8% as of December 2022. The lowest recorded unemployment rate for the year was in April at 3.2% and the highest was in February at 5.2%. Up until October 2022, the region averaged around 320 initial unemployment claims per week and a total of 13,471 claims were made. Employment in the NESA region at the end of December was at 316,088 which represented a 0.6% increase from December 2019.

Regionally, there were 15 announcements: seven were existing industry expansions and eight were new locations.

“There were many exciting announcements throughout the year in 2022,” McGill said. “We want to congratulate and commend each of these companies for making investments in our communities. To everyone, particularly the economic developers and county leaders, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring these projects to fruition, we want to thank each and every one of you.”

“We are thrilled to welcome companies like Envision AESC and DC Blox that are bringing cutting-edge technology to the state of South Carolina and the NESA region,” McGill said. “Each company that either expanded or announced new investment are recognizing the opportunities here and the value of our hardworking people.”

Looking forward, McGill said he is optimistic about the year ahead.

“We will continue to proactively work with county economic developers, allied partners and entities at the state level to promote product development in the region,” he said. “We will continue to employ strategic recruiting initiatives and stay fully engaged to support each of our counties’ economic development efforts.”

McGill noted that the NESA staff provide tools to make it easier for searching and virtually touring available sites in the region. All of these tools, along with NESA’s 2022 Annual Report, can be found at nesasc.org. NESA had their annual meeting on February 9, 2023.

Williamsburg County updates and outlooks:

Population: 31,279

Unemployment rate: 5.3%

Average annual wages: $45,062

GDP: $679,602,000

2022 in review:

Hemingway Sewing Solutions, a textile products manufacturer, announced its plans to establish operations in Hemingway, S.C. in early 2022. The company’s $3.3 million investment will create 242 jobs.

Additionally, construction of the MUSC Health Black River Medical Center in Cades, S.C. was completed with diagnostic and treatment options that include CT, MRI, nuclear medicine and mammography.

The county also started construction on a 52,000-square-foot speculative building in the Williamsburg Cooperative Commerce Centre South, located on U.S. Highway 52 in Kingstree, S.C.

2023 expectations:

Moving forward, the Williamsburg County Economic Development Board will focus its efforts on expanding the county transit system to further aid local industry. The county is also managing several active projects with prospects from various sectors.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is investigating a cluster of Legionnaires’ disease cases in Darlington County. To date, 13 people have been identified as part of this cluster.

Legionnaires’ disease is a pneumonia caused by the bacteria Legionella and includes symptoms of fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath and muscle aches. People can get sick from Legionella by breathing in small particles of water containing the bacteria. Legionella is not spread from person to person.

“The risk of Legionnaires’ disease among residents of Darlington is low,” said Dr. Abdoulaye Diedhiou, director of DHEC’s Division of Acute Disease Epidemiology. “Most people exposed to Legionella do not develop Legionnaires’ disease.”

People over the age of 50, especially those who smoke cigarettes and those with weakened immune systems, chronic lung disease or other chronic health conditions are at increased risk for Legionnaires’ disease.Those at higher risk of getting a severe infection should seek medical care early if they have the above symptoms. Health care providers should test for other causes of respiratory illness, including influenza, COVID-19, RSV and others as appropriate. Pneumonia caused by Legionella is treatable with antibiotics.

DHEC’s investigation includes efforts to determine the source of the disease cluster in the community. Investigations into these types of Legionnaires’ clusters are complex. It is often not possible to determine the origin of the bacteria that infected people. Water from cooling towers, hot tubs, misters, decorative fountains and plumbing systems are possible sources of infection.

“We are actively investigating all potential sources,” Diedhiou said.

People concerned about their risk can protect themselves by avoiding breathing in water mists from human-made water systems. Everyone is encouraged to seek medical attention if they begin having symptoms of pneumonia.

For more information about Legionnaires’ disease, please visit the CDC Legionella webpage. Health care providers are also encouraged to read the DHEC Health Advisory regarding this cluster.

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Media Relations

Photos show the aftermath the day after a devastating fire that badly damaged O'Neals Body Shop and nearly a dozen vehicles on the property off Lamar Highway in Darlington County, South Carolina, on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Credit: Tonya Brown)

DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WPDE) — Ten cars, an office building and other priceless mementos were all destroyed Tuesday evening in a massive fire at a body shop in Darlington County.

The incident occurred at O’Neal’s body shop in the 1300 block of Lamar Highway in Darlington County, according to the shop's owner, Jimmy O’Neal.

Viewer submitted video shows a major fire at a body shop off Lamar Highway in Darlington County, South Carolina on the night of Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Credit: Viewer submitted)

O'Neal said he has owned the shop for more than four decades.

“I’ve been here 44 years. I help a lot of people. A lot of people help me. It works both ways. I’m not too sad," said O'Neal.

RELATED: 1 person injured from large fire at Darlington Co. body shop

Chief Ricky Flowers with the Darlington County Fire District said when they arrived on the scene, the building was engulfed in flames.

The fire is believed to have been started by employees working on a car. One employee suffered minor injuries and refused medical treatment, said Flowers.

O'Neal said they were working on a fuel tank in a car when the fire started.

“We were putting a gas tank under a car. And the light fell over and ignited the gas tank," said O'Neal.

Traffic had to be rerouted as crews battled the fire.

Several people stopped by the shop Tuesday morning to see the aftermath of the fire, including O'Neal's lifelong friend, Randy Timmons. Timmons said to see all the damage is just heartbreaking.

“I just see a tragedy, tragedy. It’s terrible this happened, you know, to Jimmy. It’s bad, and Jimmy was good to people. Jimmy has been good to people. You can replace material things, you know. We just have to pray for him. I hate this happened. I been knowing Jimmy for a long time. My father passed in 2015. He knew Jimmy good and he and Jimmy were real good buddies. And it’s just terrible this happened," said Timmons.

NEW TODAY: SLED investigating child drowning incident in Darlington County

Shirley Graham is O'Neal’s cousin. She can't believe the shop is gone after 43 years.

“It’s really sad. He’s a good man. He always does people good. And it’s a shame this had to happen. Just pray for him that everything will work out. God has his plan," said Graham.

Viewer submitted video shows a major fire at a body shop off Lamar Highway in Darlington County, South Carolina on the night of Tuesday, May 2, 2023. (Credit: Viewer submitted)

O'Neal's wife said the shop was more like a second home to her. She would walk every day from their house next door to the shop to help her husband. She is just thankful their home didn't burn.

Jimmy O'Neal said he doesn't know what's next for him, but he plans to get back into the car business at some point.

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"It’s hard to describe. Really, I mean, you know, I lost everything. And it is what it is. And I’ll put my pieces together and move on. You know that’s all I can do," said O'Neal.

DARLINGTON, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fiber Industries, the largest domestic producer of high-quality polyester staple fiber, today announced the establishment of Darlington Green, a sustainability hub for textiles and packaging manufacturing and related research, development, and innovation. The company also announced that it has rebranded as Darling Fibers, reflecting its industry leadership in sustainability efforts and support for the local community. Darling Fibers will anchor the Darlington Green hub.

“We are aligning our brand and purpose with our potential,” said Don Bockoven, CEO of Darling Fibers. “Our goal is to build on our rich heritage as an organization by fostering innovation and spurring productivity while preserving and enhancing the environment. We envision accelerating the growth and resilience of America’s textiles and packaging industries through collaboration and partnership.”

To chart a clear path for Darlington Green, Darling Fibers is reimagining its 765-acre campus as a hub for textiles and packaging innovation. As part of that process, Darling Fibers will take a lead role in forming an Advisory Board comprised of community and industry stakeholders, to establish a definitive mission and vision for the sustainability hub. Once operational, Darlington Green will bring together and leverage the power of textiles and packaging manufacturers, state and local governments, academic research institutions, technologists, entrepreneurs, and other interested parties to reinvigorate and advance sustainability efforts.

“Darlington Green is in active discussions with partners to co-locate manufacturing and pilot new products and emerging recycling technologies, harness our collective expertise and revitalize the U.S. polyester and plastic industry,” said George Bandy, Jr., Chief Sustainability Officer of Darling Fibers.

Rebranding to Darling Fibers

According to Bockoven, since restarting the former Wellman business in 2020, the company has retooled long-dormant manufacturing lines, reestablished industry relationships, and refined its strategy for high-quality low-carbon product development.

Today, Darling Fibers’ one-million-square-foot, state-of-the-art polyester manufacturing facility can process a range of raw materials through finished goods. While currently serving customers with existing inventory, Darling Fibers has been actively engaging new customers to further scale its production of polyester fiber and chip.

“More than 380 million tons of plastic waste was generated in the world last year and only 10 percent of that plastic was recycled, with the rest incinerated, landfilled or dumped in our oceans,” Mr. Bandy added. “We see Darling Fibers and Darlington Green as being at the forefront of finding solutions and capitalizing on opportunities presented by these profound challenges.”

About Darling Fibers

Darling Fibers (formerly Fiber Industries) is the largest domestic producer of high-quality polyester staple fiber for the fabric, garment, and fashion industry, with one million square feet of manufacturing capability across 12 lines on its 765-acre campus in Darlington. The company returned manufacturing to the U.S. through a restarting in 2020 and aims to be a pioneering force in the textiles and plastics industry through its commitment to sustainability, innovation, and community. Learn more: darlingfibers.com.

In America, we celebrate freedom as often as we can with Juneteenth Freedom Day events last weekend and Independence Day celebrations starting this weekend and continuing through July 4.

Freedom Fest in Darlington kicks off the festivities from 4 to 9 p.m. tonight at the Public Square presented by the Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce. Amusement rides, petting zoo, food vendors, live entertainment, and, of course, fireworks to cap the evening. Free admission.

Next weekend, several events extend the celebration across the Pee Dee area.

The Fourth Annual Pee Dee Watermelon Festival: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, July 1, at the Pee Dee State Farmers Market, 2513 W. Lucas St., Florence. Come hang out, get refreshed, and enjoy some good produce! There will be seed-spitting contests, watermelon-eating contests, watermelon tasting, and plenty of chances to win a watermelon.

7th Annual Kids Fourth of July Parade: 10 a.m. Saturday, July 1, in Downtown Camden. Decorate your bicycles, scooters, and wagons and wear those patriotic colors when you join us for pre-parade activities and a short program in front of Camden City Hall at 10:00 am. The parade starts at 10:30 am. This is a free event. For the safety of our young participants, motorized vehicles (electric or gas powered) are not allowed, and children 10 and younger must be escorted by an adult. Don’t forget to decorate your bicycle AND your helmet! Free snow cones will be available to all participants following the parade, courtesy of the Camden Fire Department. Spectators are welcome and encouraged to watch the parade by parking on Rutledge Street in your decorated golf cart. The parade is sponsored by Books on Broad and Coffee and the Downtown Camden Cultural District.

S.C. Army National Guard 246th Army Band: 3 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at the Sumter Opera House. The National Guard is a part-time component of the U.S. Army, serving both Federal and State missions. The band utilizes the full range of their members’ musicianship to play everything from ceremonial concert music and marches to rock, jazz, pop, big band, and brass band repertoire. Stationed at McEntire Joint National Guard Air Base near Columbia, SC, they travel around the state to play a wide variety of gigs. Come celebrate the Fourth of July in style with us!

Red, White, & Blue Picnic: 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 2, at Central Baptist Church, 512 Spring St., Darlington. Food, games, activities, singing, and great fellowship. Bring your family and a chair. Something for all ages.

Fourth of July Pickleball Fun Fest: 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 4, at Timrod Park in Florence presented by the Florence Pickleball Club. Open play starts at 9 o'clock. Food, fun, pickleball, and fellowship. Please wear red, white, and blue. Lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Fouth of July Picnic & Fireworks: 12 noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, at Pyerian Baptist Church, 2813 Pyerian Road, Latta. Games, Food, Fellowship & Fireworks at 9 p.m. Everyone welcome!

Fourth of July Celebration & Fireworks Show: 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 4, at Mechanicsville Baptist Church, 2364 Cashua Ferry Road, Darlington. Free family event. Softball game, water slides, fun, games, food, and great fellowship. We will close out the event with a big firework show at 9 o'clock!