Mobile Home Sales in Ridgeway, SC

Fairfield County – Eleven Ag + Art Tour sites in Fairfield County will include working farms featuring painters, potters, weavers, quilters, musicians, storytellers, bakers and other local artisans. The tour is set for June 17 & 18.

Now in its 12th year, the Ag + Art Tour is a free, self-guided farm tour where visitors can learn about where their food and fiber products come from while enjoying the creativity and entertainment of local artisans. Each farm will offer something different – chickens, goats, and other livestock as well a variety of local artisans. For purposes of the tour, artisans are defined as those who hand-craft products without using kits or commercial models and whose primary components are not manufactured.

“One of our goals has been to give people a better knowledge of what is produced in their backyard and help them to support local businesses while making healthier food choices,” said Will Culler, an agribusiness agent with Clemson Cooperative Extension and director of the S.C. Ag + Art Tour. “This event does that by putting food and product with a face.”

Eleven counties, including Fairfield, will host Ag + Art tours on separate weekends in 2023.

The sites are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Crazy Chic Heritage Farm: 450 Kenal Rd, Ridgeway, SC 29130 Open Saturday & SundayFirst generation protein and regenerative practice farm with Kune Kune pigs, Dexter cattle, Beefalo, many chicken varieties. Also, mini donkeys, a mini horse, a guardian llama and dogs, wagon rides.

Fairfield Farmers and Artisans Market: 117 E Washington St, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open only Saturday 10-4.Farmers market offering seasonal produce from local farmers and handmade items from local artisans.

Heirloom Fine Art Gallery: 121 E Washington St., Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open only Saturday 10-4.

Gypsy Wind Farms: 3005 Buckhead Rd., Blair, SC 29015 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Home Grown on the Farm: 2500 Old Douglass Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open only Saturday 10-4.

Farm fresh eggs, vegetables, farm meats, flowers.

Ridgeway Town Hall and Downtown: 170 S. Dogwood Ave, Ridgeway, SC 29130 Open only Saturday 10-4.

Visual and performing artists (individuals, small groups and bands who will entertain visitors with a variety of music from classical to country).

Riding Ridge Farm: 692 Riding Ridge Rd., Ridgeway, SC 29130 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Slightly North of Charleston: 160 S Palmer Street, Ridgeway, SC 29130 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

STORE34: 18438 Newberry Road, Blair, SC 29015 Open Saturday only 10-4.

The SHE Garden: 1450 Newberry Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Wilde Rose Farm: 2437 South Carolina 269, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Open both Saturday and Sunday.

Find a complete list of tour dates and participating counties at www.agandarttour.com.

Dec. 8 (UPI) -- Shots were fired near a Duke Energy hydropower station in South Carolina, officials from the company and local authorities said.

Several Duke Energy employees saw an individual pull up in a truck around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and use a long gun to fire shots near the Wateree Hydro Station in Ridgeway, S.C., and then speed away.

Duke Energy spokesman Ryan Mosier said the company is working with the FBI as it investigates the incident. He said there was no damage from the shots that were fired and no one was injured.

Kershaw County Sheriff Lee Boan said told WLTX the shots were fired into trees in the area but away from the power plant. However, they could not immediately confirm that the plant wasn't targeted.

Columbia's Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports and more | Columbia, South Carolina | WLTX.com

Possible shots fired near Wateree Hydro station in Ridgeway

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This shooting comes days after a shooter fired at a Duke Energy electrical substation in Moore County, N.C., knocking out power to 40,000 customers for days.

While power has been restored, there have not been any arrests in that case as the FBI continues to investigate.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper called that attack a case of domestic terrorism.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told CBS News the agency was monitoring threats to energy grids throughout the nation.

"The Department of Energy takes the security of our nation's power grid seriously and we work closely with industry to identify and address the evolving threats to the grid," she said. "As power is restored in North Carolina, we'll continue to work with law enforcement on this incident and any other threat to critical energy infrastructure. Those who commit these crimes to our nation's critical energy infrastructure will be held accountable."

A new recreation center, wastewater treatment plant, and improvements to the commerce center are all on the way

RIDGEWAY, S.C. — Fairfield County has begun spending part of its $99 million settlement with Dominion Energy over the failed VC summer nuclear reactor

Fairfield County officials held a groundbreaking Wednesday for a $2.5 million recreation center in Ridgeway. The center will be equipped with a fitness center, public resource center, a kitchen and a basketball court. The outside will feature a 1/4 mile walking loop and a soccer field.

Last month, the county unveiled its $2 million "Teacher Village", which is also funded by the settlement money. Director of Economic Development for the county Ty Davenport tells News 19, these projects are only the beginning of what is to come.

“We really are on the edge of something great,” said Davenport.

RELATED: "Teacher Village" groundbreaking in Fairfield County

According to Davenport, the county is using the money on upgrades to the industrial park at the Fairfield Commerce Center, work on the I-77 Mega-site and a $46 million wastewater treatment plant near the Broad River.

Davenport said work on the industrial park will start next month. He also said the wastewater treatment plant is expected to be done within the next three years.

#HAPPENINGNOW: Ridgeway Recreation Center Groundbreaking in Fairfield County. This is a $2.2 million project coming from the $99 million Dominion settlement. I’ll have more details later on @WLTX about upcoming projects coming to the county. pic.twitter.com/0QNi0IcG6u

— Becky Budds (@BeckyBuddstv) April 20, 2022

County Council Chairman Moses Bell said these investment ensure Fairfield will be a place where residents can work, play, and stay.

“From 2010 to 2020 we lost over 12% of the population. We cannot allow that to happen in this county anymore," said Bell.

Long-time resident Brett Collins has seen that decline of businesses and people. He said he looks forward to new jobs and new growth in the area.

“If we use that money to attract industry to come here. You’ll keep your youth here working and the county will flourish,” said Collins.

After a year of opposition, a Virginia company has received approval to build a quarry there.

RIDGEWAY, S.C. — The Virginia-based company Luck Stone has received approval to mine granite in Ridgeway and now they are searching for locals to help fill spots in their company.

The quarry is being built off Highway 34 and I-77 behind Winnsboro's water supply tower.

RELATED: Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune's legacy lives on in National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol

The project was officially approved by DHEC and Fairfield County in January of 2022, and now Luck Stone says they are preparing to open.

"We have been looking at this property for the last several years, we've done some extensive testing on the property and know that it's going to be a good crushed stone source," SE Region Vice President, Joe Carnahan. "Right now, we have partnered with a site development company and they are getting ready to mobilize, and grade the site in a way that is usable for our operation starting in about the middle of next year when we'll start the extraction process. We'll process our material into different sizes of rock that can be used for road base, through concrete ingredient as well as asphalt."

The company says they are working to hire for everything from salespeople to welders and equipment operators, with the goal of being staffed before opening for sales in the summer of next year.

And several people from the Fairfield community like Janice Watkins came out with the hopes of being one of those new hires.

RELATED: Richland County still searching for poll workers for November elections

Watkins currently drives 45 minutes from her home in Fairfield to her job in Columbia. She feels that having another company in the area could help others like her in the community.

"There's a lot of companies that start out in Winnsboro then they close and so you're having to find employment in other locations and it may require that you drive a little further than you want," Watkins explained.

Now that the luck stone company has hosted its first community event, they plan to begin taking pre-blast surveys and surveying the wells of properties surrounding the quarry as well.

A proposal to create a rock mine in Fairfield County has received backlash from residents and organizations who say they fear the project could negatively impact local water supply and waterways.

The Virginia-based Luck Stone Corp. is seeking the Department of Health and Environmental Control’s approval to mine for granite and gneiss on a 416-acre parcel off S.C. 34 near the Town of Ridgeway. If the proposal is approved, the mine would be allowed to operate there for the next 100 years.

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The company recently took over a quarry in Kershaw County and is currently seeking another mining permit in Enoree. Last year, Luck Stone withdrew a proposal to operate a quarry in Chester County after facing backlash from residents there.

“We believe that Fairfield is a great location for us to be able to support, participate and help lead growth and development in this region,” said Benjamin Thompson, director of land development for Luck Stone.

According to Luck Stone’s mine operating permit, the company plans to dig 485 feet beneath the ground in order to drill into the rocks. Explosives will be used to break the rocks up into smaller fragments that are easier to transport.

One of the main points of contention is the proposed mine’s proximity to the well where Ridgeway gets the majority of its water.

“That well is crucial to Ridgeway’s independence,” said resident Cal Harrison. “With the amount of water the mine would need to operate, we’re concerned there could be significant drawdown that would force the town to have to buy its water elsewhere.”

The proposed location also overlaps with Dutchman’s Creek, which feeds into Lake Wateree. Some have questioned whether contamination from the mine could harm the lake and the animals that live there.

“If there’s any kind of water quality impact from sedimentation, that can kill wildlife,” said Lauren Megill Milton, an attorney from the South Carolina Environmental Law Project, one of the groups lobbying against the mine.

Thompson said the risk of contamination is low and that his company is required to perform a wide variety of ecological assessments beforehand. If the mine causes the neighboring well to malfunction, “there are rules in place that would hold us liable,” he said.

DHEC is hosting a public meeting to discuss the proposal on Aug. 5 at 6:30 p.m.. The event can be attended virtually or in person at Geiger Elementary School in Ridgeway.

The department is also accepting oral and written comments through Aug. 20.

So far, several organizations, including the Town of Ridgeway, the Lake Wateree Association and The Catawba Riverkeeper Association, have submitted comments to DHEC expressing concerns about the mine.

“We’re encouraging everyone to share their thoughts on this matter,” Megill Milton said. “This is the one chance people have to speak out before a quarry is put in place for the next 100 years.”

This story was originally published July 26, 2021, 5:00 AM.