Mobile Home Sales in Moncks Corner, SC

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - The Berkeley County Family YMCA is closing its doors after nearly 30 years.

The YMCA of Greater Charleston sent a notice out to members on Jan. 30. The email cited the building as being “in need of substantial improvement.” The notice says the YMCA cannot provide that work and the efforts to operate in Berkeley County have “seriously challenged the financial capabilities” of the local YMCA.

Therefore, the YMCA of Greater Charleston Board of Directors and staff management have decided to close and sell the 210 Rembert C. Dennis Blvd. location in Moncks Corner.

President and CEO of the Charleston area operations, Paul Stoney, signed the email notification.

Stoney says the building was costing more than $100,000 a year to keep its doors open and still needed costly repairs, like a potentially $300,000 new roof. When the building is officially sold and closed, members are invited to use the Cane Bay location, and participate in continuing leagues and services.

“Physically, that YMCA does not meet the expectations of a YMCA, it is rapidly deteriorating,” Stoney says.

Stoney says the decision was based on being a good steward of community money, and the facility didn’t make sense anymore. But he says there are future options to collaborate with the help of land donations or developer deals.

“And as it relates to developers, if they’re able to, and it makes good business sense, then we would love to maintain a new presence in that community with a new facility. So that is being taken into consideration,” Stoney said.

The notice says all current members will be grandfathered in to the YMCA facility in Cane Bay, which is about a 20-minute drive across the county. The membership will last one year from the closing date of the Moncks Corner location, which has not been announced.

Kenneth Owens, a member since 1998, says he will miss the location.

“I’m sad it’s closing down because I’ve always enjoyed the people I work out with and the people who run the facility here are very nice people. But going to Cane Bay isn’t really going to be an option for me that’s a little bit further to travel,” Owens says.

The Cane Bay facility opened in April of 2019 and boasts 54,000-square-feet of new construction and assets.

Stoney says in the email that YMCA youth sports, fitness and programming will continue at satellite locations across the county and the non-profit will make every effort for current staff members to continue with the organization.

“Our programs, just like programs that we operate downtown, although we don’t have a physical presence, that is part of our service area. And we still operate programs downtown without having a physical presence. We intend to do the same thing in the Moncks Corner Berkeley County community,” Stoney says.

Stoney says he values the Moncks Corner members and is happy to field any question going forward with the process.

“This is part of a longer vision to continue to deliver a high caliber of programs throughout Charleston and Berkeley counties. And we take that very seriously. We also have to recognize when a facility is not up to our standards, and yes, tough decisions need to be made,” Stoney says.

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Back in the days when city-based utility companies showed scant interest in supplying power to many of South Carolina’s rural areas, a group of residents took it upon themselves to form Berkeley Electric Cooperative launched in January of 1940.

The story of how many local farm areas finally saw the light was recounted by Berkeley Electric Cooperative’s Director of Energy Services Eddie Plowden during the “Avoiding the Wump World” Feb. 16 history session at the Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust building in Downtown Moncks Corner.

The event that set the wheels in motion for the transformational undertaking, according to Plowden, was President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s signing of Executive Order 7035 in 1935, establishing the Rural Electrification Administration.

Educators in attendance, including the program’s lead instructor Carol Poole, learned that Clemson Agricultural College farm agent H.W. Harvey — commonly rereferred to as Mr. Harvey — spearheaded the formation of a six-member board that first gathered on Jan. 10, 1940 at the Bank of Berkeley site on Wall Street.

The six members hired their first employee B.E. Hatfield Jr. as project superintendent at a then handsome salary of $150 a month.

Each of the six men — which included prominent merchant Perry Peagler of Cross — were also entrusted with recruiting 100 people to get the cooperative off the ground. Prospective members were required to pay a fee to enter the new club.

“Basically what you’re doing is going out to the community — and this after the Great Depression — and you’re asking them to give $5 out of their pocket to start the cooperative,” said Plowden while donning a 1930′s style fedora to set the mood during his presentation.

“Still our membership costs $5 to get started. It’s the same thing it was in 1940 to become a member of the cooperative whether you’re Google or you’re in a rural area or you’re in a store.”

But while the membership dues have remained status quo, the cost of illuminating one’s country ranch was substantially lower than today’s prices, as the Berkeley Electric Cooperative spokesperson displayed a 1941 monthly invoice in the amount of $1.50, which was more or less the going rate for the average resident at the time.

In fact, the rates as confirmed by Peagler in his one-page writeup before he passed in 1999, were: seven cents for the first 20 kWh, five cents for the next 30, three-and-a-half cents for the next 50, two-and-a-half cents for the next 100 and one-and-three-quarters cents for the more than 200 kWh.

Peagler wrote: “Because of the co-op, you could have lights in the barn or anywhere you wanted. It was a great help having lights around the house too. It was such a good thing. That was a thing in the house that was good. Electricity — it hit the spot for everybody.”

In referencing the present-day cost of keeping the lights on, added Plowden, electricity rates haven’t increased since 2015 for the largest electric cooperative in South Carolina that currently services about 112,000 active members in the Berkeley/Charleston/Dorchester tri-county area.

The reading of electric meters, it was also noted, has come a long way. In the early World War II days, customers affected by power outages had to mail out co-op letters to apprise the provider of their plight.

Before Plowden was hired by the cooperative in 1986, he explained, physical books were kept that stored meter readings, which were recorded by employees who went out and checked on the devices.

The technology-drive progression of maintaining records would later emerge in the form of a hand-held apparatus that contained a mini-cassette. Information from the medium would then be transferred into a computer instead of books.

The system is use today is known as TWAC (Two-way Automated Communication), which retrieves data via powerlines.

“We can obviously tell if somebody has no power immediately and it’s reported back to us right away ... we’ll [then] look to dispatch that out and do the repairs. We are changing our meter system back out again because we are not getting enough capacity of information back to us that we need and the new [setup] is a RF (Radio Frequency) system, it’s called a mesh system,” shared the keynote speaker.

On the subject of outages, Plowden stated that on average, customers experience fewer than two hours of power loss per year.

In the event of a utility pole going down, Berkeley Electric Cooperative will focus on “switching” and opening up circuits to isolate the source of the issue while returning power to all affected residents in very little time.

Other noteworthy changes in the industry include the sourcing of energy. In 2005, 79 percent of power was derived from coal. That number has decreased precipitously to about 38 percent nowadays.

On that note, Plowden touched on solar energy. Folks with solar panels on their rooftops comprise about 10 percent of customers statewide.

“What’s going up is natural gas and renewable energy. Our percentage of nuclear energy is going up,” he observed.

Saskia Lindsay

Telephone: (843) 295-2658

saskia.lindsaysmith@redcross.org

Chance at trip to Florida + $10 Amazon.com Gift Card for coming to give blood or platelets

CHARLESTON, S.C., February 15, 2023 — One in 7 patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. At the same time, only about 3% of Americans give blood. The American Red Cross needs more people to make and keep appointments to give blood or platelets in February and has three great reasons to do so:

Help prevent a blood shortage: Winter brings seasonal illness and dangerous weather, which can hurt the blood supply. When donors give now, they can help ensure blood is on hospital shelves when it’s needed.

It’s Heart Month: During a blood donation appointment, the Red Cross checks donors’ blood pressure and pulse, which are important indicators of heart health.

Treat yourself: All who come to give in February will get a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email, thanks to Amazon. Those who come to donate this month will also automatically be entered to win a trip for two to Clearwater Beach, Florida. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/heart.

Donors of all blood types – particularly type O blood donors, the most needed blood group by hospitals – and platelet donors are needed daily to meet demand. Protect the blood supply from dropping – book a time to give blood or platelets by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities Feb. 15-28

Okatie

2/27/2023: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Church of Palms UMC, 1425 Okatie Hwy

Moncks Corner

2/24/2023: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Home Telecom, 579 Stoney Landing Rd.

Pinopolis

2/26/2023: 11:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Pinopolis United Methodist Church, 1833 Pinopolis Road

Charleston

2/23/2023: 9:45 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd

2/23/2023: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., Marine Resources, 217 Fort Johnson Rd.

2/24/2023: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd

2/25/2023: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd

2/26/2023: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd

2/27/2023: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd

2/28/2023: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., West Ashley Blood Donation Center, 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd

Mount Pleasant

2/24/2023: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Mt Pleasant Blood Donation Center, 920 Houston Northcutt Blvd

2/25/2023: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Mt Pleasant Blood Donation Center, 920 Houston Northcutt Blvd

2/26/2023: 6:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m., Mt Pleasant Blood Donation Center, 920 Houston Northcutt Blvd

2/27/2023: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Mt Pleasant Blood Donation Center, 920 Houston Northcutt Blvd

2/28/2023: 11:45 a.m. - 6:45 p.m., Mt Pleasant Blood Donation Center, 920 Houston Northcutt Blvd

N Charleston

2/23/2023: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., North Charleston High School, 1087 E. Montague

North Charleston

2/23/2023: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m., North Charleston Creative Arts Elementary, 1600 Saranac St.

2/28/2023: 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Delta Air Lines & Charleston County Aviation Authority, 5500 International Blvd, #101

Hampton

2/24/2023: 10 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Parker Law Group, 14 Mulberry St East

Hardeeville

2/27/2023: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Hardeeville Recreation Center, 285 John Smith Road

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Amplify your impact − volunteer!

Another way to support the lifesaving mission of the Red Cross is to become a volunteer blood donor ambassador at Red Cross blood drives. Blood donor ambassadors help greet, check-in and thank blood donors to ensure they have a positive donation experience.

Volunteers can also serve as transportation specialists, playing a vital role in ensuring lifesaving blood products are delivered to nearby hospitals. For more information and to apply for either position, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

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UPDATE: After our report on Wednesday, DHEC reached out to News 2 letting us know they have approved the water permit, so the store can begin the process of opening. DETAILS HERE.

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MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – People living in Moncks Corner have been long awaiting the opening of a new Publix shopping center. While the grocery store appears to be ready to open, many are now wondering “what is the holdup?”

“If you live in the area, you are excited about the store coming in. What we’re not excited about is how long it’s taking for it to open,” said Robert Esclavon, who stops by the center occasionally to see its progress.

The 75,000 square-foot Publix at the new Moncks Corner Marketplace was announced about two years ago. Today, things basically look finished – there are grocery carts inside, fixtures in place, and shelves waiting to be stocked. But still, the store sits unopened.

Based on a January 2021 press release, the shopping center was slated for completion in June 2022, with Publix expected to open in fall 2022.

“The few people I run into say it looks like it could be mid-September before it opens. I don’t know if they know what they’re talking about, but for a store that’s complete – except for product on the shelves – it makes you wonder what’s holding it up,” said Esclavon.

Esclavon reached out to News 2 to find out what is going on. Leaders with the Town of Moncks Corner said they are waiting on final approval from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

“Right now, we are just waiting on DHEC to approve the water supply system over there. All the engineering has been done- the water is clear, it’s just a matter of getting everything signed off on the state DHEC office and they’ll be able to start moving in people and supplies,” explained Douglas Polen, Moncks Corner Community Development Director.

One person, who was familiar with the construction project, said they had to wait a few weeks for Berkeley Water and Sanitation to get their water meters installed. That process is now complete, and they have been waiting on DHEC for the past week and a half.

Officials with DHEC tell News 2 they are going to see what they can do to expedite the rest of the approval process so the store can finally open for business.

Esclavon said that is why he called us for help.

“Just having you guys, like you guys research it a little bit and maybe you push them along to have this project move up … they’re ready to go, I think,” he said.

Moncks Corner officials said once DHEC gives its final approval, Publix could open in as little as three to four weeks.

The lights are on, the cameras are rolling, and the action is taking place in Moncks Corner.

The film industry is back in the Lowcountry, with filming kicking off Tuesday along Main Street.

“I kind of equivalate it to a major sporting event,” said Moncks Corner Mayor Michael Lockliear. “Because you’re going to bring people into town that usually wouldn’t come this way.”

With construction cones in place and law enforcement directing traffic, the stage is set for the pharmacy.

Delta Pharmacy has been transformed and prepped for Hollywood’s Woody Harrelson and Laura Linney, the stars of the drama film Suncoast.

But for Lockliear, the town and its businesses are the show's true stars.

“They’re going to be shooting all the way up until noon tonight,” he said. “They’re closing down Main Street at seven and will shoot on the Hwy 6 Main Street, so that’s exciting. It will expose those businesses, and it’s exciting to have a Hollywood studio production here in the Town of Moncks Corner.

Tuesday afternoon, the tents and truckloads of gear in Delta's parking lot caught the eye of Monica Early, who was shopping across the street.

“I knew something was going on, but I didn’t know what it was,” she said. “Put our little town on the map like it’s never been before. I believe you need to use local small towns when possible for these big movies. If you can use local, that just ups the value of your town.”

While Charleston has captured the eye of Hollywood in recent years with the filming of the series Outerbanks and Righteous Gemstones, Lockliear hopes the same recognition can translate to what he calls South Carolina’s best-kept secret.

“When people come from outside that normally wouldn’t come to Moncks Corner and see what we have to offer, they want to come back, and it’s great to have that,” he said.

Now is your chance to play a small role in Suncoast. To learn more on how to sign up to be an extra in the film, click here.