kitchen countertopsIn Walterboro, SC

Media Contact: Nancy Smith,

General Manager,

South Carolina State Fair

803-799-3387

nancys@scstatefair.org

Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022 (Columbia, S.C.) — Discount admission and ride tickets for the 153rd annual South Carolina State Fair are on sale now through Tuesday, Oct. 11. Patrons can save up to 50% by purchasing S.C. State Fair tickets in advance at SCStateFair.org or at a participating Circle K location.

The S.C. State Fair, the state’s largest annual event, returns October 12-23, 2022 at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds. From corn dogs and blue-ribbon roses to roller coasters and prize-winning pigs, the S.C. State Fair is best known for bringing 12 days of exhibits, competitions, food, midway rides and entertainment to Columbia each October.

“The South Carolina State Fair is truly a one-of-a-kind event with something fun and exciting for everyone,” says S.C. State Fair General Manager Nancy Smith. “This year’s theme, ‘To the Fair and Beyond,’ celebrates the experiences, traditions and impact that your fair creates for not only 12 days each fall, but also year-round and beyond.”

S.C. State Fair Highlights

More than 90 food vendors will be serving up classic fair favorites like elephant ears and corn dogs — plus new, mouthwatering treats.

From sky-high thrillers to family-friendly fun rides, there will be more than 60+ rides in the midway.

More than 70+ bands, acts, exhibits, animal races and more will take place throughout the 12 days.

The free daily CIRCUS at the Fair is back with a renowned lineup of acts.

17,000+ competitive exhibits will showcase some of South Carolina’s best in art, crafts and agriculture.

Museum of the Moon, an international traveling exhibition sponsored by South Carolina ETV, will be on display and free with fair admission.

Discount Tickets

Discount admission tickets are $10 per person ($15-$20 during the fair) and discount ride vouchers are $30 per person ($35 -$38 during the fair). Visit SCStateFair.org or a participating Circle K location to purchase discount tickets now through Tuesday, Oct. 11.

Health and Safety

The S.C. State Fair is committed to providing a safe experience for its patrons. Visit SCStateFair.org to learn more about the fair’s clear bag policy, youth policy, safety guidelines, and the latest COVID-19 precautions and policies.

About the South Carolina State Fair

The South Carolina State Fair, a self-supporting 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, was organized in 1869 and is dedicated to preserving and promoting South Carolina’s agricultural roots while supporting statewide education. In addition to the 12-day South Carolina State Fair, the charitable organization manages annual football parking, is a popular event venue and hosts Carolina Lights — Columbia’s downtown drive-through light show. The South Carolina State Fair has awarded more than $4 million in scholarships since 1997.

More information can be found at SCStateFair.org.

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Non-Profit Hires Its First Executive Director

Executive Director, Mary Sunshine House

VivianW@marysunshinehouse.org

Cell: 864-952-7975

Central, S.C., September 15, 2022-Mary Sunshine House (MSH), a newly launched nonprofit, has hired its inaugural executive director to lead the organization in bringing a powerful mission to the upstate – a comprehensive independent living program focused on serving autistic adults. The program is a much-needed service that provides educational, vocational, recreational, and medical support services to adults in a 24/7 independent living community in a recently renovated duplex complex adjacent to the campus of Southern Wesleyan University.

Vivian Weatherby, a native of Cashiers, NC, assumed the post in mid-July and brings more than ten years of nonprofit leadership experience to the program. Weatherby’s most recent impact was at Boys & Girls Club of the Plateau, whereas the operations director, she was integral in the success of youth development programs, strategic planning, and marketing and fund development. Previously, she worked at Camp Merrie-Woode, a nonprofit residential camp for girls. Weatherby holds a bachelor’s degree from NC State University.

“The opportunity is an honor,” Weatherby said. “Mary Sunshine House has the potential to tremendously impact the autistic adult community in a profound way.”

She spoke of the vision MSH has to provide community and support for an underserved population. According to the CDC, 1 in 44 children are diagnosed with autism. Through person-centered planning, Mary Sunshine House will address several critical needs for adults on the autism spectrum from basic living skills to affordable housing.

As executive director, Weatherby will work closely with staff and the MSH board to grow the organization carefully over the next five years. MSH plans to open initially this fall with 6 residents and grow to support 10 residents by the end of 2023. The vision is to support a total of 45 residents by 2027.

“Vivian comes to Mary Sunshine House with a passion to make a difference in the lives of others,” said board chair and founder Lori Pendergraph. “She has experience in mentoring amazing teams, creating inroads in small communities, and launching the innovation and ideation needed to create a safe and thriving community for autistic adults. We are thrilled to present her as our inaugural executive director and look forward to her advancing our mission to serve 45 residents as we bring the vision of Mary Sunshine House to life.”

ABOUT MSH:

Mary Sunshine House is a newly formed non-profit dedicated to providing comprehensive services to support autistic adults to live independent and fulfilling lives. The mission of MSH is to enrich the lives of adults with neurodevelopmental/autism spectrum disorders by helping them realize their individual potential for self-reliant living, meaningful productive work, successful socialization, and experiences in on-going physical and emotional growth.

For more information, visit www.maryshinehouse.org

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Press Contact: D. Scott Croft,

703-461-2864,

SCroft@BoatUS.com

SPRINGFIELD, Va. Aug. 29, 2022 – With gas prices continuing to fall and the summer boating season coming to a close, more boaters are expected to take to the water this Labor Day holiday. Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), the nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group with more than 800,000 dues-paying members, is advising boaters to keep safety at the forefront of their boating activities.

According to an online survey of BoatUS members across the country, 65% of respondents plan on boating this Labor Day weekend. Almost 80% said they are welcoming lower gas prices and plan to extend their boating season into the fall.

“We know the Labor Day weekend is the unofficial end of summer, but for many boaters, the long weekend serves as a ‘last blast’ invitation to get out on the water, and we expect increased boating activity on lakes and coastal waterways,” said John Condon, vice president of towing services for BoatUS. “Our survey also indicated that there’s no end in sight for a lot of boaters as they are starting to take advantage of lower gas prices and extend their season into the fall. However, this is a great opportunity to get boaters to think about finishing their season with safety and preparedness in mind.”

BoatUS typically receives more than 90,000 calls annually with the major boating holidays – Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day – driving the most calls for assistance from members and non-members. The most common requests for on-water assistance from recreational boaters include some type of engine or mechanical breakdown, running aground in a shallow area, needing a jumpstart, running out of fuel, and needing a tow.

Capt. Richard Lenardson, owner of TowBoatUS in Grand Haven, Mich., and his team provide on-water assistance for boaters on Lake Michigan, are anticipating another busy holiday weekend this Labor Day and are communicating their safety message out to boaters now before the holiday rush picks up.

“I tell folks on the water all the time: ‘you’ve got to treat the lake like an ocean,’” Lenardson said. “You never know what the waters and weather will do from one minute to the next, so preparation and safety are key.” Lenardson urges all boaters to have reliable communications equipment such as VHF marine radio and not depend solely on cell coverage, which can be lost offshore.

Capt. Robert Estrada, owner of TowBoatUS Lake Lanier, Ga., expects boating activity on the lake to “triple” this Labor Day holiday and also urges boating safety fundamentals.

“Many people use checklists for their grocery shopping, so I tell boaters to use a checklist for boating,” Estrada said. “U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets should always be first on your list – especially for children, followed by boating safety essentials like flares, fire extinguishers, working navigation lights, and inspected engines and fuel systems.”

Estrada also recommends a designated sober boat operator is identified before leaving the dock.

A range of boating safety topics ? which can be customized to include on your own checklist ? are available at the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water. For more information on towing services, visit BoatUS.com/Towing, or call 800-888-4869.

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The historic St. Jude’s Church in downtown Walterboro has been saved and will not be forced to hand over its church and property to The Episcopal Church. Now, the church is operating as an Anglican Church. On May 5th, leaders with the St. Jude’s Church filed a Petition for Rehearing. The Revised Opinion came out August 17th. Thus, the congregation can continue to workshop on site and will not be required to hand over their church and other properties. This ruling is a Revised Opinion issued by the S.C. Supreme Court. The court’s original ruling said St. Jude’s was one of 14 churches across South Carolina that had to give their property, including the land and church buildings, to The Episcopal Church. However, the local church countered, and asked the S.C. Supreme Court for a new hearing. “We are overjoyed with this final ruling from the S.C. Supreme Court. This past season has been taxing but we trusted in the Lord and prayed that His Holy Spirit would guide us through this wilderness season,” said Newman Lawrence, rector of St. Jude’s Church in Walterboro. “We can’t wait to get back into community ministry and share the Gospel more fully here in Walterboro and Colleton County.”

This original ruling is part of a 10-year-long lawsuit, where multiple churches in South Carolina broke away from The Episcopal Church. Then, The Episcopal Church filed suit against them, saying they rightfully owned the properties. Since that original S.C. Supreme Court ruling, many other churches have left their properties and/or closed their doors to comply with the high court’s ruling. “In 2012, St. Jude’s voted as a church body to disaffiliate with The Episcopal Church along with the majority of parishes and the Diocese that made up the Lowcountry, Peedee, and Grand Strand areas. This departure was based on theological issues rooted in upholding the authority of Scripture which is a priority for us,” said Lawrence. “For decades, The Episcopal Church had strayed away from that authority of Scripture and it was clear that a “social gospel” was more prominent in many of the teachings coming from that organization. St. Jude’s and the Diocese later affiliated with the Anglican Church of North America, a denomination that worships in the historical Anglican tradition. “Over the last 10 years, St. Jude’s has been caught up in a lawsuit over whether or not that disaffiliation allowed them retain ownership of the property they operated, built, and maintained for generations. This case was argued in both District and State Courts multiple times and the results seemingly varied in any given ruling, but after filing a Petition for Rehearing on May 5, the facts of St. Jude’s case have finally prevailed.” Lawrence said the new ruling has St. Jude’s prepared for “new ministry opportunities” in the Colleton County community. The local church will now be focused on mission and ministry in the community, and will continue with traditional Sunday morning worship services. “We will be good stewards not only of the property we have been blessed with but also of the Gospel we are entrusted to share with others, fulfilling the commandment to love God and our neighbors,” he said. St. Jude’s Church in Walterboro was established in 1855. https://www.loc8nearme.com/south-carolina/walterboro/st-jude-s-church/6831952/

PRESS RELEASE - (August 31, 2022; Calabasas, CA) Harbor Freight Tools, America’s go-to store for quality tools at the lowest prices, has announced that it will be opening a new store in Walterboro, SC. The new store will be located at 231 Robertson Blvd. and is expected to open this fall. Hiring to Begin for 25-30 New Jobs in the Community. An official opening date will be announced closer to opening.

Construction has already begun at the location, using local workers and companies from the surrounding Walterboro area.

“We’ve been looking to open another location in Walterboro for a number of years so that we can provide the tools and equipment at tremendous values to the community,” said Trey Feiler, Senior Vice President, Real Estate and Construction for Harbor Freight Tools. “In addition to finding a great location, we were attracted by the availability of great associates in the Walterboro area, and we look forward to having them join the Harbor Freight team.”

The store is expected to bring between 25 and 30 new jobs to the community, including Sales and Logistic Supervisors, Senior Associates, Sales Associates, and seasonal opportunities as well. Harbor Freight Tools offers a competitive starting rate along with a best-in-class retail benefits package that includes robust health coverage, and Thanksgiving and Christmas off. Harbor Freight provides stability and the opportunity to advance in a company that continues to grow, with over 25,000 Associates and more than 1,300 locations nationwide.

Harbor Freight recognizes that its people are key to its success and is committed to being the best place to work in any industry. Forbes Magazine has recently recognized Harbor Freight as one of the top 20 large employers in all of retail, one of the top employers in terms of diversity, a top employer for women, and one of the country’s Best Employers for Veterans for two years in a row. Diversityjobs.com has also recognized the company as a top employer for its commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Interested applicants can apply online at www.harborfreightjobs.com/retail and search “Walterboro, SC”.

About Harbor Freight Tools

For more than 40 years, Harbor Freight Tools has been America ’s go-to source for affordable tools. The family-owned company started in Southern California in 1977, when 17-year-old Eric Smidt began transforming his father ’s small phone sales business into a successful mail order company, bypassing the resellers, dealing directly with factories, and passing the savings on to the customer.

The company opened its first store in 1980. Today Harbor Freight Tools has over 1,300 stores across the country, 25,000 associates and more than 40 million customers who depend on Harbor Freight ’s quality and value to earn a living, repair their homes and cars and pursue their hobbies. With core values of excellence and continuous improvement, Harbor Freight Tools works to constantly improve the quality of its products and this year will introduce more than 800 new tools and accessories. Harbor Freight Tools is one of the nation ’s fastest growing retailers, opening two new stores every week.