South-Carolina
Jasper County may extend 270-day moratorium on building
on Monday, the Jasper County Council took its first step towards extending a building and development moratorium that is set to expire in mid-March.
If the council adopts the measure, they will move the deadline until July 31. Before any extension is possible, however, the council must hold a second reading that includes a public hearing; that has been set for March 4.
The moratorium – a 270-day timeout designed to give county officials a chance to weigh increasing development pressures in the county’s most rural areas – was adopted last June, a month after the council appointed what it dubbed the Broad River Task Force.
The task force looked at mounting development and population pressures mainly in and around unincorporated areas of Hardeeville and Coosawatchie. Jasper County Director of Planning and Building Lisa Wagner said in a phone interview Tuesday that those pressures are in the form of increasing requests to build, especially in areas of the county that Wagner says simply do not have the infrastructure to support.
The moratorium itself was ignited by a development proposal to bring 700 residential units close to Broad River, a proposal that immediately upset conservation groups worried about the impact on natural areas.
The moratorium states: “County Council is concerned over the impact of new subdivisions, commercial and residential development will have on road infrastructure, evacuation routes, streetscapes, traffic congestion, storm water, open space, natural habitats and the quality of life in this area.” [sic]
The moratorium has not affected single-lot construction; it was designed to put a pause on larger commercial and residential projects.
Wagner said that on the cusp of their nine-month deadline, Jasper County officials realized that they needed more time to consider the broad set of issues they have in front of them.
She said officials want to be more deliberate about – and “to add more meat” to – the building regulations that the county wants to develop to meet immediate and longer-term growth.
“We didn’t want to rush just to get it done by the end of 270 days,” Wagner said. She added that county officials also found “a need to keep our rural and unincorporated areas rural.”
A community event to get further feedback from the public is set for March 25.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Advocates, caregivers, patients, and community leaders gathered at the South Carolina State House on Friday for the inaugural South Carolina Sickle Cell Day.
Organizers said the event focused on raising awareness of sickle cell disease.
The South Carolina CBO Collective Caucus hosted the event at 10 a.m., coinciding with World Sickle Cell Day and Juneteenth.
Organizers said the gathering brought together healthcare professionals, legislators, advocates, and supporters from across the state to discuss education, support, and action related to sickle cell disease.
The program is designed to amplify the voices of individuals and families impacted by the disease and encourage conversations about healthcare access, advocacy, research, and community support, organizers said.
Attendees heard personal stories and learned about challenges faced by those living with sickle cell disease.
“World Sickle Cell Day is a powerful call to action for all of us,” said founder and CEO of The B Strong Group Brenda Green. She said the collaboration expands support, strengthens community response, and stands with affected families.
The B Strong Group, founded in 2017 and based in Columbia, is a nonprofit organization focused on sickle cell awareness, advocacy, and caregiver support.
The group organizes blood drives, caregiver workshops, and awareness campaigns under the motto “Educate, Advocate, Empower.”
An 87-year-old businessman in Columbia, South Carolina says he has no plans to retire.
Leonard Fabrizio works as a retailer at Brittons of Columbia, a locally-owned men’s clothing store.
“I’m not the type of person who can sit around by myself,” said Fabrizio. “I just enjoy the interaction and that’s the big thing, is the interaction with people. It’s always been the drive in this business for me, said Fabrizio.
Fabrizio’s retail career began as a college student when he worked at J.C. Penney. He has watched Columbia grow and has owned a store and managed several others.
His advice is to “Be patient. It takes time to build a business. It doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s rewarding. It’s fun. But you have to have compassion for the business.”
Fabrizio recently celebrated another birthday alongside those who have supported his career.
(WPDE) — June 9 marked International Batten Disease Awareness Day, shining a light on a rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder.
It primarily affects children and causes harmful waste material to build up inside the cells of the brain and nervous system.
One South Carolina family used the day to raise awareness as their 2-year-old son, Sam Stockton, lives with CLN2 Batten disease.
Sam was diagnosed at 16 weeks old, and his family says they travel every other week for enzyme-replacement therapy while also searching for clinical research opportunities.
Through Hope for Sam, the family is working to spread information about Batten disease and support other families facing rare diseases.
“Just the more you know about rare diseases, I never knew that over 300 million people worldwide live with rare diseases. And that means there’s less access to care because people aren’t researching it and not as many people have it. So the more information that’s out there, we feel is the better,” Jordan Stockton said.
There are 13 known types of Batten disease, and there is no cure. Researchers estimate the disease affects about two to four out of every 100,000 births in the United States.
The Stockton family says they have found support through the Batten Disease Support, Research and Advocacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate the disease while providing resources.
More information and donation details are available at this link.
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