(WCIV) — A Charleston man was taken into custody Sunday after he allegedly hid in a shower at his ex-girlfriend's house laying in wait to "prank" her when she got home close to midnight was to "surprise" her and "lighten the mood" after the two had reportedly gotten into a fight over text His ex told police that he emerged in the nude from the waist down wielding a kitchen knife and wearing a pair of her bike shorts over his face before allegedly mimicking slitting her throat with the knife and choking her 25-year-old Jackson Collum Arnold was arrested Sunday and charged with assault/battery of a high and aggravated nature and possession of a weapon during a violent crime Officers with the Charleston Police Department responded to the home of his ex girlfriend on James Island around 1 a.m Sunday morning in connection to a physical disturbance call told officers that he had gone over unannounced to the house where the girlfriend's family also lives He intended to surprise her by scaring her to "lighten the mood" and hid in the shower in the modified garage apartment his ex lives in "without permission." She arrived home just before midnight Saturday when he said she left the apartment and he emerged who told them that she had gotten home and planned on going into the main house for dinner when she noticed an unknown man approaching her She recognized a pair of her own black biker shorts covering the lower part of his face and her tan baseball cap on his head He wore these in addition to allegedly holding a kitchen knife His underwear was later discovered in the shower by officers She said she asked him what he was doing and he told her it was a prank and that he wanted to talk to her, according to police. They both sat on the victim's bed as she remained calm to avoid any further altercation, the report states, and Arnold told her she should go let her mom know she is okay since he thought she would have heard the commotion. The victim walked out of the apartment, ran into the main house, and asked her family to call 911. Arnold was booked at the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center just after 7 a.m. Sunday. Bond details were not immediately available. He is due to make his first appearance in court in June, according to case details. Armstrong Williams takes on the news of the week and asks the questions you want answered. Don’t miss our weekly town hall. South Carolina Aquarium marks 25 years with block party celebrationby ABC NEWS 4 STAFF (WCIV) — The South Carolina Aquarium is celebrating its 25th anniversary this month marking a significant milestone as a center of STEM education Aquarium officials said they've educated millions of schoolchildren and rehabilitated and released 451 sea turtles back into the wild the Aquarium is hosting a 25th Anniversary Block Party on Sunday The event will feature free family activities such as a climbing wall Local food trucks will also be available for lunch purchases President and CEO of the South Carolina Aquarium expressed gratitude for the community's support "As we commemorate 25 years in the heart of Charleston we feel immense gratitude toward the community we serve around the state of South Carolina and beyond," said Mills "The impact and success we've achieved are a testament to the unwavering support of partnering organizations generous donors and every visitor who has shared in the wonder of connecting with our incredible animals." the Aquarium is offering $25 general admission tickets on May 18 and 19 Advanced purchases are encouraged due to anticipated high demand For more information, visit their website Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInNORTH CHARLESTON (WCSC) - The North Charleston city councilmen who pleaded guilty to corruption charges are still costing the taxpayers money even after giving up their positions A special election to replace Jerome Heyward and Sandino Moses is just about to get underway with early voting starting on May 12 Heyward and Moses vacated their seats after they pleaded guilty to charges that stemmed from a federal corruption investigation A third city council member, Mike Brown, has been suspended in connection with that same FBI corruption investigation. Brown has pleaded not guilty and will remain suspended pending the outcome of his case READ MORE: ‘Profound betrayal’: 8 charged in North Charleston corruption investigation There are 15 candidates vying for the two seats in the special election There are seven candidates running for the Moses’ District 3 seat and eight candidates running for Heyward’s District 5 seat The Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections is hosting the election but the city of North Charleston is paying for it “We do have two seats up and there are eight polling locations training them and so forth,” Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Executive Director Isaac Cramer said Cramer says the special election is expected to cost between $20,000 and $30,000 state law requires special elections if a vacancy is made with more than 180 days before the next election Cramer says special elections are common and they’re doing about one per month “It basically establishes four election dates a year,” Cramer said. “So, instead of having an election any Tuesday in the calendar year in South Carolina, you would have four dates that we have to go by and that will help make things more simple, help us attract and retain poll workers and also to get polling locations.” Those dates would be in January, April, June and August. The state Senate passed the bill but it awaits action in the House. Firefighters extinguish blaze at an apartment complex in Charleston Firefighters responded to a fire that broke out at an apartment building in Charleston Sunday night (WCHS) — Firefighters responded to a fire that broke out at an apartment building in Charleston Sunday night at an building along the 1800 block of Bigley Avenue Dispatchers said that Charleston Fire Department crews responded and were able to knock out the flames All tenants were able to escape the building by Bryce Jacquot (WCIV) — Minor league baseball teams have the opportunity to hit a branding home run The comedian and TV show host is offering one team a complete rebrand On Sunday evening's episode of "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver" on Max the host said the show is willing to "use all of [their] resources and stupidity" to give one minor league a new name and even throwing them a theme night that will be "personalized and bespoke," Oliver promised and resources into this as we do into exposing the dark underbelly of America's criminal justice system Oliver ended Sunday's episode with a look at minor league baseball teams and the creative lengths they have to go to generate enough money to pay their expenses like the Hub City Spartan Burgers or the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Oliver highlighted how on July 9, 2018, the Riverdogs hosted Helen McGuckin Night at the Joe The idea was born after the team received a two-star review Google Review from McGuckin that simply said "Just drove by." For any minor league team looking for a facelift the offer comes with only three conditions Interested teams are asked to email johnoliver@buntstuff.com I promise we will rebrand your team into something so spectacular even Helen McGuckin would love it," Oliver promised The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe it’s important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication Children raised in stable homes are more likely to exhibit better academic The string of violent shootings that occurred in Charleston last weekend wasn’t just an aberration It was a live manifestation of the consequences of incivility respectful and considerate behavior toward others disrespectful and dismissive behavior that disregards the dignity of others The string of violent shootings that occurred in Charleston last weekend wasn’t just an aberration often creating a cascading effect that can damage relationships While some might think the recent behavior was just someone having a bad day it was actually a symptom of a dangerous disease respectful dialogue is encouraged are more likely to communicate constructively in school sarcasm or conflict may foster adults who struggle with healthy civic behavior But they act as a starting point for shaping how individuals engage in classrooms Strengthening healthy family interactions can have a profound ripple effect on societal well-being and civic harmony There’s a maxim that teaches we should bring up our children in the way we would have them act What we see in public is what they learned at home we must start by building better families and practicing peace at home Political reporter Nick Reynolds’ recent incisive article, "SC Senate votes to remove Treasurer Curtis Loftis from office leaving his fate unclear," rightly underscores a central failure of leadership: the inability to answer for a $1.8 billion accounting error that combined with the comptroller's $3.5 billion overstatement has left South Carolina’s finances under federal scrutiny The problem — clearly identified as a long-standing ledger discrepancy — was not only overlooked but concealed Loftis’ refusal to engage in plain accountability speaks volumes he offered evasions (“I make mistakes all the time”) and rhetorical shrugs (“hindsight’s pretty good”) — classic examples of weasel words that deflect rather than disclose his defense leaned heavily on ad hominem attacks and non sequiturs Loftis’ team compared Senate proceedings to authoritarian crackdowns invoked Trump-era culture wars and resorted to political theater Loftis' attorneys John Gasser’s sports metaphors and Deborah Barbier’s image projection of foreign dictators served no purpose but grandstanding grounded in audit records and video of Loftis' own words revealed a troubling pattern of misrepresentation from the treasurer’s office This case is not about partisanship, but about public trust. As a recent editorial made crystal clear if Treasurer Loftis cannot be transparent about past failures he cannot be entrusted with the future of South Carolina’s finances it would appear the changes made to the nation's education programs have lessened the value of attending college so many majors have been added to universities' programs of study that it leads to more limited job opportunities This is due to students earning degrees in narrowly focused areas of study rather than more generalized majors that feature a much broader skillset to take with them when they enter the workforce Second, the federal government is forgiving hundreds of billions of dollars in student loan debt through targeted programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Income-Driven Repayment It has also become more publicly known that the federal government has been putting large amounts of funds into our colleges' programs. Some of those funds go to research that has value but I suspect that much of it goes toward wasteful programs and adding administration that has little to no payback — an effort that adds to tuition cost Parents need to look closely into what programs will really work for their children's future Students who choose to attend community colleges and technical schools receive great value for their investment as well News tips/online questions: newstips@postandcourier.com Delivery/subscription questions: subserve@postandcourier.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The city of Charleston bought a former Piggly Wiggly property in West Ashley in hopes of redeveloping it in a way that would revitalize the neighborhood Renderings of the Ashley Landing shopping center redevelopment Site plans show the portions of Ashley Landing Shopping Center in West Ashley that are slated for demolition to make way for Publix supermarket to be relocated from the top right corner of the site plan to part of the larger site slated for demolition at bottom center One of Mayor William Cogswell’s initiatives provides $48 million in city support for a large redevelopment of a former Piggly Wiggly and neighboring Ashley Landing shopping center A rendering shows what the proposed Publix at Ashley Landing Shopping Center in West Ashley will look like when it's relocated from across the parking lot to a portion of the retail center that's slated to be demolished Charleston's Ashley Landing shopping center in West Ashley is about to get $348 million renovation Project is part of larger plan covering 35 acres including a vacant lot where a Piggly Wiggly once stood CHARLESTON — Fencing and yellow caution tape already surround part of a West Ashley shopping center, where construction on the long-awaited redevelopment project along Sam Rittenberg Boulevard will finally begin after a ceremony planned by city officials and developers on May 7 The overall proposal covers 35 acres that combines the larger Ashley Landing shopping center and a vacant lot across Sumar Street where a Piggly Wiggly once stood. Plans call for more than 6 acres of green space a four- to five-story apartment complex with 285 units 100 townhomes and 240,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space "We're addressing what people have been wanting there," said Councilman William Tinkler who represents the district where the site is located He called the investment completely unprecedented for West Ashley home to more than 40 percent of the city's population Demolition of part of the existing shopping center will kick off the construction. This will make way for a new Publix The grocery chain is currently located across the parking lot in the middle of the planned development Publix will remain open during construction as will many retail and commercial spaces along the periphery of the shopping center The same can't be said for the Crunch Fitness or Charleston Stage's West Ashley Theatre Center The theater production company preforms at the city-owned Dock Street Theatre downtown but rehearses and holds classes and programs at the West Ashley location The developer behind the shopping center's upgrade is renovating a vacant 10,000-square-foot space for Charleston Stage in the same development But there will be a pause in their fall classes as they wait for the new location to be complete office space and theater seating than they have currently we will have a beautiful new space in a beautiful new center," said Clark who hopes to be in the new location by the start of next year People visiting the shopping center should expect to be "inconvenienced for the next few years," Tinkler said he believes the "vibrant community" left behind will be worth the wait The city and county are both planning improvements to traffic around the site which Tinkler said is one of the biggest complaints for residents who live nearby He hopes the investment will encourage additional traffic mitigation from state authorities "We're finally realizing plans that were envisioned 20 years ago." and every councilman since has pushed for redevelopment of the area Past proposals ground to a halt as council failed to come to a consensus last year about what to do with the smaller former Piggly Wiggly site the city bought in 2017 he began courting developers with deeper pockets to tackle the larger redevelopment effort The overall plan will cost taxpayers an estimated $48 million with another $300 million investment from Edens a Columbia-based real estate company that owns properties in Mount Pleasant Edens purchased the Ashley Landing shopping center in October for more than $38 million and in December paid the city $1.1 million for the 3-acre Piggly Wiggly parcel That's nearly $2 million less than the city paid for the property in 2017 The city also changed how it approves development along the busy commercial corridor in order to fast track the project The property sits in a tax-increment financing district which the city is relying on to fund its portion of the site's public infrastructure That will include $10 million for affordable housing; $9.6 million for public streets and right of ways; $4.7 million for parks and green space; $1 million for a 3,000-square-foot community space; and $13 million for stormwater infrastructure A TIF essentially allows municipalities to borrow against future tax revenue generated from improvements to blighted properties and reinvest it back into the district The West Ashley TIF was created eight years ago If the city doesn't issue any bonds within the next two years construction is slated to complete in 2028 (WCHS) — A family farm known for its produce gardening supplies and entertainment in Putnam County is expanding Gritt’s Farm is opening a new location at the South Charleston Farmers Market starting Saturday according to a social media post from the farm located at 4006 MacCorkle Avenue Southwest For more on Gritt’s Farm products and locations, click here or follow along on the business’ Facebook page Best Places to Work in South Carolina Weston & Sampson announced that Cheri Ruane leading their award-winning Design discipline and serving on the Board of Directors Cheri will lead with innovation and passion and use her leadership skills and vision to connect people and opportunities to help grow the firm’s presence community notes and leaders in your organization to SCBIZ’s influential audience Click here to make a Professional Announcements submission and to find out more. [caption id="attachment_81704" align="alignleft" width="300"] Joe Sabatini[/caption] First Bank welcomes Joe S[...] Mark Muller has been promoted to Sales Manager at Preferred Construction Supply (PCS) [caption id="attachment_81379" align="alignleft" width="300"] Dan Scheaffer [caption id="attachment_81246" align="alignleft" width="275"] Robert Judy[/caption] Robert Judy has joined Wes[...] Fifth Third Private Bank hired Wendy Kopp as Senior Vice President and Wealth Management Advisor to open the C[...] [caption id="attachment_81171" align="alignleft" width="300"] John Daughtridge[/caption] First Bank has hired [...] Sign up for your daily digest of Charleston Business News Current CEO will head to a new post in Poland as the Ladson plants welcomes a leader from [...] Stevens Towing has powered coastal transport evolving from mail delivery to hea[...] Blanchard Machinery begins construction on a $65M Calhoun County facility to boost growth American Airlines adds more flights between Charleston and LaGuardia increasing to 3 daily departur[...] A new joint venture acquired 104 affordable housing units in North Charleston for $15M South Carolina Treasurer Curtis Loftis will stay in office for now as the House opts not to act on S[...] Charleston business is the market leader in business media in South Carolina We connect you with decision-makers and stakeholders throughout the state Get our free e-alerts & breaking news notifications Log in for access to the latest digital and special editions Charleston International had more than 6.2 million passengers Charleston International Airport's recently updated air service incentive plan is meant to spur more nonstop routes to places data shows CHS travelers want to go Similar to how travelers have a wish list of destinations Charleston International Airport has one of its own Las Vegas or San Diego via a nonstop flight from Charleston It may one day be part of the itinerary as CHS looks to expand both domestic and international air service in and out of the Lowcountry CHS's air service incentive plan — approved by airport officials in March — offers airlines a variety of perks and savings for adding new routes to CHS from the airport's desirable destination list International destinations on the list include London destinations include spots like Las Vegas and several California hubs finance director for the Charleston County Aviation Authority said the wish list is regularly reviewed for opportunities to add new desired markets which in turn provides new air service routes to target destinations that benefit the community," James said "We've been able to leverage these incentives in recent years." and marketing incentives for the duration of two years for a new route to one of the listed destinations The max value of total incentives CHS can offer per year was extended to $2 million this year up from $1.5 million in 2024 — though it doesn't always reach that cap the airport has offered an average value of incentives between $1 million and $1.5 million "The Charleston area is growing and it's a destination that many airlines see as an opportunity to provide or expand service if they're already here," James said Charleston International Airport sees more than 6.2 million travelers per year and passenger traffic drives the cities that end up on that wish list but we see enough (connecting) passenger traffic without nonstop service that we believe adding a nonstop service would stimulate it well beyond where it is right now," Edwards said planners track where they start their trips where they end up and the cities where they had to connect Airlines and airports then use the analytics to inform their expansion decisions Incentives aren't offered for every new route He called them a tool for the airport to use when necessary such as closing discussions on routes considered a priority of the community "The airport has used it very responsibly," Edwards added "We carry a lot of people to cities like Denver and Dallas every day but as much as half of the plane is going beyond those places The root analysis is important as we look at our priorities for longer haul routes and more frequency to shorter haul routes." but also where some Lowcountry newcomers previously resided James said the incentive plan is meant to not only support the launch of new nonstop flights to specific destinations but to ensure the long-term viability of a route James called it a small part in a broader strategy Information provided by the Charleston County Aviation Authority Reach Megan Fernandes at mfernandes@postandcourier.com evolving from mail delivery to heavy cargo with a family-first approach and strong workforce One rather interesting job included helping to move a replica of Air Force One from Rhode Island to Washington Charleston-based Stevens Towing marks 112 years of coastal service two brothers started a marine transportation company putting down roots in a Younges Island post office Johnson Stevens is the fourth generation to own the company, his great grandfather and great uncle being the original proprietors of Stevens Towing During the generation of ownership before him his father bought out the ownership portions of the other family members and purchased the company’s first tugboat Having once focused on the Sea Islands of Charleston such as Johns Island Stevens Towing has spent the past 112 years growing into barges and tugboats operating all along the U.S “We don’t do the high-volume stuff you see every day in the (South Carolina) ports,” Stevens said “But there’s a lot more that flies under radar in the state that we’re attached to that makes a big difference.”  Multiple generations of local families have worked at Stevens Towing and as the region grew and bridges started being developed the company found ways to stay useful and relevant the towing company had people coming in to fix their boats as well The Stevens Towing website lists cargo transportation towing and tugging or barging as its services there isn’t a boat service he isn’t willing to learn and add to the family portfolio Stevens said for the boating industry in the Gulf of Mexico and the Northeast there is enough volume to thrive with only one primary service the lower maritime transportation of goods means companies like Stevens Towing have to be more flexible Stevens Towing has contracts with large local factories like Nucor Steel benefiting from having the second largest floating crane on the East Coast Having had such a longstanding presence in the Lowcountry Stevens Towing has employees who have been there for nearly 50 years Stevens said the family culture of the workplace ranges from dinner at each other’s houses to adjusting performance evaluation according to hardships in each person’s home life you have to earn their respect.” Stevens said “You have to know when you’re in the trenches together they know you’re right there with them That’s what’s made us survive 112 years.”  Related: Dock Blocks goes all-American with US-made products Related: 2 entrepreneurs swap golf careers for Charleston luxury transportation company Stevens Towing offers an apprenticeship for local high school students to come to train in both the maritime industry Stevens said one of the students who ended up working with the company just purchased his first house at 24-years-old under Stevens’ guidance “It’s fun to see the different people as you teach them the trade they continue with and you can see how far they can take it,” Johnson Stevens said Stevens Towing has about 75 people working on tugboats along the United States coast with another 100 in the shipyard you love a challenge and you have the right mindset to where you know the team aspect or are not afraid of failing a couple times usually that person can learn anything,” Stevens said Ports' facilities achieved record volume in March The White House adviser singled out BMW Manufacturing’s South Carolina plant when discussing President Trump[...] The 360,000-square-foot facility will create 300 jobs The Port of Charleston’s new ocean carrier deployments will be increasing from 25 to 29 weekly services The ship can carry the equivalent of 16,828 20-foot-long containers It's the first facility in South Caroliana for the company which delivers different products throughout the U[...] by Abigail Quinn (WCIV) — A man has been arrested in connection to a kidnapping incident that occurred over the weekend according to the North Charleston Police Department Erick Deontray Rivers was charged with assault and battery in the 1st degree possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime possession of stolen property and felon in possession The incident report from the North Charleston Police Department states that Rivers was observed driving suspiciously in the area of Helm Avenue Reportedly Rivers was observed pulling into a church parking lot and after a period of non-suspicious activity READ MORE | Inmate's escape attempt at L.C. Knight Detention Center under investigation a call came in about a male needing help due to being assaulted Further investigation showed that the victim had been taken from a Stay Inn Express Sunday morning and was pistol whipped The victim reportedly stated that Rivers and one other person became spooked by the pursuing officers and fled on foot Rivers and one other suspect were arrested without incident and during a search a black handgun was located and confirmed as reported stolen Rivers was detained at Al Cannon Detection Center pending a bond hearing Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers not necessarily those of the editorial staff The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations closely resembles the opposite facade on East Bay Street with its secure parking area (right) where workers park Customs and Border Protection  Entry to Authorized Personnel Only." they may look through its doors to glimpse its checkerboard floors Unrepaired damage to marble tiles outside the U.S What if a city's grandest public building was also its most secretive It's no hypothetical: It's the status quo of the U.S. Customhouse at 200 East Bay St. one of Charleston's grandest pieces of architecture Classical Revival styling and quality materials When the Trump administration named 440 federal buildings that it was considering selling I halfway expected the Customhouse to land on the list Surely its workers could be moved to other secure suitable if more modest office digs in our region It was not on that original list, which was quickly scrubbed from the federal website, and no South Carolina building is on the current, revised list of 23 federal properties earmarked for "accelerated disposition." The long-unrepaired patch of marble tile near East Bay Street is but a small sign of a growing maintenance backlog When the federal government decided to build a customhouse at Market and East Bay streets around 1849 the location made perfect sense: It was smack in the middle of the city's front door situated in the midst of the dozens of bustling wharves jutting into the harbor from below Broad to above Calhoun Street almost all our state's shipping goes through the Wando Welch Hugh Leatherman and North Charleston terminals in Mount Pleasant and North Charleston with only minimal activity lingering at the Columbus Street Terminal about a mile up East Bay The State Ports Authority moved its office from a block away from the Customhouse to Mount Pleasant several years ago and the offices of many shipping companies have likewise fanned out across the region So what once was a strategic location for a customhouse now seems anything but I encountered few who have any understanding of who even works inside the grand building or what they do there One must climb up the approximately 30 granite steps to reach a locked door to read: "Entry to authorized personnel only." I reached out to the city preservation groups and others to try to learn more; most had no idea I remember going inside a few decades ago and seeing a host of federal offices I was mostly impressed by its interior lobby a vast cortile or courtyard that apparently was used originally as a business room patriotic symbols and classical flourishes City Councilman Mike Seekings says he doesn't think he's ever been inside the building in the 35 years he's lived here I've felt like 'Rocky,' but I don't think I've ever had an occasion to go inside." I reached out to the General Services Administration the agency told me the building is 100% occupied Customs and Border Patrol as the prime tenant "GSA employees are laser focused on supporting our partner agencies and providing the best value for the American taxpayer GSA is in constant communications with our customer agencies to ensure they are aware of our actions and have the opportunity to work with us to come to the best possible workplace solutions to support their mission." Federal customs workers first worked inside the Exchange Building at the eastern end of Broad Street, but a waterfront site several blocks north was bought for a new customhouse in 1849, a site formerly known as Fitzsimmon's Wharf, according to a federal website the feds opened up an architectural competition for a new design Four entered the contest; Supervising Architect of the Treasury Ammi B Young turned them all down but did incorporate elements from each into a cohesive design Work began in 1853 and uncovered elements from the original city wall but rising costs and the specter of a civil war led Congress to hit pause The building suffered damage from federal shelling during the war though its planned domed cupola and side porticos were cut and a stone wharf was built out front (part of which still survives and I hope will be incorporated prominently into Union Pier's redevelopment) the feds planned to demolish the Customhouse in 1956 a project that included carving "United States Custom House" on its western facade Congress passed the National Historic Preservation Act and the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 That the Customhouse still appears to house federal customs workers is more evidence that Charleston remains a living city But shouldn't such a grand pubic building be open to the wider public Reach editorial writer Robert Behre at rbehre@postandcourier.com (WCIV) — The North Charleston High School performed a full three-act play for the first time in 20 years Saturday "We know this is something we can do," said T'mani Woodward the North Charleston High School theatre teacher "I've been in theatre my whole life and I wanted to share that experience with these students." To produce a show of this magnitude for a school which had not seen theatre for decades was no small task everything had to start from the ground up "Dressings rooms were doubling as storage space for desks and chairs so I had to advocate for myself and my students," said Woodward "We have had faculty working here for 15 years and they didn't know that there was even a stage back here." The students who performed in the play stepped onto the stage knowing it had not been done for generations at the high school "My first time doing this was my first time acting ever," said actor Samantha Williams "But getting on stage and seeing all the work you put in pay off The performers remarked that the student body enjoyed the performances "We had to teach all the students proper theatre etiquette," said Woodward "But they loved the performances and they were shocked by a lot of what happened on stage." "They all complimented us." said Williams "They said this play was actually cool and they didn't expect the play to be this cool They all thought plays would be just boring." North Charleston High School does not have anymore plays planned as of now as she plans on taking the performances up a notch (WCIV) — UPDATE: Bessinger's is "OK" after firefighters responded to what appears to be an electrical fire "Very minimal damage was done because the fire department was so quick to respond," Bessinger said Saturday afternoon He said it appears to have been an electrical fire Andrews and Charleston Fire Departments for more information Firefighters responded to Bessinger's BBQ in West Ashley Saturday regarding reports of a kitchen fire Andrews Firefighters Association Local 3697 said the fire extended into the roof of the historic barbeque joint on Savannah Highway Bryan Luce prepares to unload a haul of oyster shells out at the DNR’s small yard where the shells are isolated for sterilization before making reefs John Getsinger uses a water hose to blast recycled oyster shells from a barge into the natural bed along Folly Creek Oyster shells are discarded into a shell recycling bin during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday A water jet blasts recycled oyster shells onto the natural bed where they grow along Folly Creek John Getsinger uses a water hose to blast a tower of recycled oyster shells from a barge into Folly Creek for growth on the natural bed Bryan Luce walks a bin of oyster shells out from the back of Husk to the trailer he’s making the rounds with to pick up shells for recycling Oysters being picked up for recycling shimmer in the morning light piled up in the SCDNR trailer Bryan Luce operates a lift to pick up recycling bins for oyster shells and dump them into a trailer for transport to the sterilization site The SCDNR’s oyster shell recycling drop-off site sits packed with shell next to a trash bin for political signs Oyster shells are a critical component in 'living shorelines' across South Carolina But amid surging demand and limited supply Bryan Luce's truck rumbled down the quiet streets of Charleston with a trailer of oyster shells rattling in tow As restaurant crews prepped for the day's service Luce idled up behind Leon's Oyster Shop on King Street He hopped out and began dumping plastic waste bins full of fetid oyster shells into the bed of the trailer He described it as "the smell of clean water." Luce is a part of the South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement Program moves oyster shells from the swanky raw bars of downtown Charleston back into salt marshes a process Luce described as the "bottom of the diagram" in the lifecycle of an oyster It's work that likely will become more important in the future Communities across South Carolina are investing in "living shorelines" to adapt to rising seas The organic structures help prevent erosion and reduce impacts from storm surge all while filtering polluted runoff and creating a habitat for salt-marsh dwelling critters Oyster shells are the foundation for those shorelines But as demand for living shorelines surges, SCORE has started to struggle with its own success. Demand for oyster shells across South Carolina and the rest of the East Coast is climbing, causing a surge in price for the commodity. Meanwhile, climate change could put new pressure on the bivalves, which could impact their growth.  SCORE and DNR plant about 30,000 to 50,000 bushels of "cultch material" (that includes both oyster shells and limestone) per year While there's "considerable variability" in a bushel on average they weigh about 50 pounds each "We're getting to an uncomfortable point where we're going to have to figure out how to do more," Luce said "We can't quite collect enough oysters yet We still have to purchase oyster shells from other places to kind of meet our goals for planting The "oyster reef restoration economy" is a growing, multimillion-dollar industry along the East Coast, according to the Nature Conservancy. Costs for oyster reef restoration (which includes living shorelines) are "extremely high with the national average well over $100,000 per acre," according to the nonprofit DNR is paying $5.54 for a bushel of oysters That's more than double what a bushel cost 10 years ago who oversees DNR's Shellfish Management Section said the department is currently meeting the state's oyster shell demand But as out-of-state shells grow more costly the team will need to rely more on in-state recycling partners "(The cost) underscores the value of the recycling program and the importance of folks being involved in that," he said Luce said they can substitute alternatives to supplement the oyster shells Limestone is cheaper and can recruit oysters so it is a common additive to oyster reef renourishment projects While Hollis said exact ratios have "considerable variability" from project to project since 2019 limestone has on average comprised nearly 30 percent of SCORE's restoration projects But Luce said the alternative material is "less than ideal," and DNR still prefers shells which comprise the other 70 percent of SCORE's cultch Several factors have combined in recent years to limit the supply of oyster shells a shortage that in turn drives up the cost The project is scheduled to be completed in 2027 As these projects have become more popular, other groups across the Southeast are beginning their own shell recycling programs About a quarter of SCORE's recycling material since 2019 (including oyster shells and limestone) has been imported from out of state Meanwhile, the department reports that worldwide oyster populations are declining due to lack of suitable habitat and increased pollution, among other factors. "It's slowly starting to put us in a tough place," Luce said we would say all restaurants that serve shells should be expected to recycle with us," he added As Luce loaded oyster shells into his trailer behind Leon's Oyster Shop Andrew Hartenstein appeared at Leon's back door The restaurant's head chef wanted recommendations for sanitizing the bins between pick-ups The Post and Courier’s Rising Waters Lab focuses on impacts of climate change and related policies and practices. It is supported by donations and grants to the nonprofit Public Service and Investigative Fund, whose contributors are subject to the same coverage we apply to everyone else. For more information and to donate, go to postandcourierfund.com The Upper King Street establishment typically is the halfway-point in Luce's route he usually needs to dump his haul — a part of the journey that requires security clearance and a government-issued photo I.D Oyster shells clattered and cascaded as Luce dumped the contents of his trailer onto the concrete Several piles of shells already had been stacked several heads taller than Luce located at a port facility along the Cooper River SCORE keeps at least $2 million worth of oyster shells secured at the site locked behind one of the port's security checkpoints They will be picked clean by birds and insects and bleached by the sun purging them of any odor and biological hitchhikers Failure to follow a regimented recycling process risks introducing invasive bacteria and species into South Carolina's coastal waters If any invasive organisms get introduced through unquarantined shells there's not really a method to remove them Dropping unquarantined, non-native oysters into the water can result in a fine. Taking oysters from one of SCDNR's less well-guarded recycling sites — a favored poaching opportunity for those looking to use the shells for crafts projects or garden beds — also can result in a fine "I seem to catch a lot of people stealing shells," he said and there was an older couple from Virginia They had a little cooler with them and they were picking up the shells." found oyster reef restoration was a $70 million-$90 million industry in the United States and created about $210 million in economic output About 85 percent of the restoration industry is located from the mid-Atlantic to the Gulf Coast The Southeast comprises about 10 percent of the total Luce said nobody has managed to undercut SCORE yet as doing so likely would require significant upfront costs They're 25 years behind what we're doing."  There are two methods for planting an oyster reef. One involves a bunch of volunteers, careful placement of shell cages and a lot of mud. These community-driven projects can be accompanied by a lot of fanfare and guest appearances The other approach involves a high-powered water cannon the SCORE team has elected to use the latter option John Getsinger was slowly whittling down a massive pile of oyster shells with a jet of pressurized water scanning for any trash that had found its way into the pile Thanks to volunteers who sort through the oyster piles while they're still quarantined Sommers said they find significantly less trash than they used to "There's typically a lot of saltine cracker (wrappers)," said Sommers Over the combined din of the boat engine and the water cannon she explained that this project was an effort to bolster publicly-harvestable shellfish grounds around the creek There are a few ways the SCORE team determines where to drop their shells "We look at harvesting pressures for the grounds," she said "We also look at shellfish ground that has been closed for a period and if there's potential for us to do some restoration for it to become a harvestable ground." South Carolina's shellfish grounds that line the coast are the traditional source for the Palmetto State's oysters. Natural local oysters grow in clusters, but farmers now also cultivate singles South Carolina's indigenous oysters also are some of the state's most vulnerable They spend half their lives out of the water and they're vulnerable to polluted run-off worsened by the state's rapidly developed coast and an era of climate change-powered storms the oysters sink to the bottom of the creek but they have one last responsibility to carry out they'll form the foundation for a new generation of oysters James Yon tosses an oyster into a roaster during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday The Festival drew a crowd of thousands and sold 50,000 lbs of oysters - 13,500 of which are local cluster oysters Jaxon Cerneka walks through a crowd with fresh oysters at the Historic Charleston Foundation oyster roast fundraiser on Thursday Members and guests shuck Lowcountry oysters along a table at the Historic Charleston Foundation oyster roast fundraiser on Thursday Family and friends pass around freshly shucked oysters at tables for opening the mollusks during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday Family and friends crack int oysters during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday An array of raw oysters by Oyster House are placed out on ice during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday shucks a local grouping of oysters during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday Volunteers shuffle around oyster shells in the trailer used for recycling oysters during the 40th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday Festival contributes about 3% of the DNR’s annual need for oyster shells in reseeding beds the DNR recycled about 38,000 bushels of oyster shells through community roasts The SCDNR's SCORE program recycles and creates more habitat for the bivalve mollusks than any other program on the East Coast Festivals and restaurants taking part in the recycling program are some of the largest contributors to it's success Follow Jonah Chester on Twitter @chester_jonah at his family’s new rental home near Washington The now-retired Marine colonel has questions about his recent dismissal from a post in Yuma more than a year after he ejected from his F-35B on a rainy day over North Charleston A photograph of the ejection seat from a military investigation into the 2023 F-35B incident over North Charleston takes a box upstairs at his family’s new rental home near Washington The now-retired former USMC colonel has been in this house about 24 hours and is trying to get a few things organized for his family before his evening flight back to Yuma Challenge coins in a storage box of Charles "Tre" Del Pizzo’s new rental home near Washington Souvenirs like this get handed out and collected as tokens of respect by military members A cup carried in World War II by the grandfather of Charles "Tre" Del Pizzo Charles "Tre" Del Pizzo chats with friend Miriam Smyth Smyth is a retired Navy captain and is part of a large support system Del Pizzo has been helped by since he ejected from an F-35B jet over North Charleston in 2023 Marine Corps pilot demonstrates the F-35B Lighting II’s capabilities during an airshow in Beaufort in 2023 a Beaufort native and outgoing commanding officer both with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 during the VMX-1 change of command ceremony at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma F-35B Lightning IIs are assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego An F-35B at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort where Marines train F-35B pilots from around the world Marine aviator Charles "Cheez" Del Pizzo leading a four-plane formation over Iraq in 2016 on the way to Mosul Harriers once were the most dangerous jet in the military but numerous improvements made it a stalwart Exclusive: A decorated Marine colonel who ejected out of a failing F-35B stealth fighter over North Charleston in 2023 tells the story about what happened and how it affected his military career tbartelme@postandcourier.com A dark mass of clouds hung low over North Charleston as Marine Col Del Pizzo's hands were on the control stick and throttle of an F-35B Lightning II and Del Pizzo planned to use that technology to land Del Pizzo had just finished a training sortie over the Atlantic with a second F-35B pilot practicing tactics at upwards of 500 mph at seven times the force of gravity He needed to experience this jet’s strengths and weaknesses he was a full bird colonel getting ready to command a squadron in Yuma a high-visibility assignment to fine-tune the Marines’ aviation strategies and procedures As he closed in on Charleston Air Force Base Forecasters earlier had said the weather would improve Heavy clouds moved in like a big gray curtain He’d use his instruments to get through it all Pilots do instrument landings all the time in crud like this And the F-35 was packed with instruments, cameras and sensors — all feeding a torrent of data into computers linked to his $400,000 helmet display The helmet itself was an engineering wonder It had a dark visor that displayed the jet’s speed The jet had cameras mounted on the bottom of the plane that streamed videos to the visor this fusion of data and optics allowed him to see through the plane’s smooth shark-gray shell Then the visor erupted in flashes of alerts Then the helmet and main displays went dark; the audio alerts stopped Military aviators are taught to make quick decisions using an “OODA Loop”— observe The goal is to cycle through the loop’s four phases faster than your opponent Del Pizzo’s opponents were the weather and his jet act: Execute a missed approach procedure and get away from the ground Pressed a button that converts the jet from vertical mode to conventional more than 25 messages telling him that the jet was in deep trouble and getting worse The helmet and main display failed a third time He glanced at the small backup panel between his legs He heard what sounded like a motor spooling down He felt the nose of the aircraft tilt upward he reached between his legs for the yellow handle Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo's harrowing ejection from a $135M fighter jet doing rep after rep until important decisions are intuitive and instantaneous procedures are based on actions people took in the past that proved to be good ones Having procedures in place also means that when something goes sideways you’re protected not punished — as long as you followed those preset rules All this makes you and your unit faster and more confident warfighters the system he followed as a young Marine flying AV-8B Harriers It’s the system he trusted while training and flying more than 2,800 hours in 12 different military aircraft The system that led to a stream of promotions to decorations like the Defense Superior Service Medal It’s the system that propelled him to a coveted command assignment One that had his superiors saying he could someday make general A system that gave him a profound sense of belonging that only other Marines really understand And after those 41 seconds in the cockpit of a failing stealth fighter details his journey back into the cockpit after the mishap and then how that journey suddenly ended when the Marines relieved him of command more than a year after he pulled the ejection handle His story answers many questions about what happened that stormy Sunday afternoon in 2023 over North Charleston but also raises new ones with stakes that go beyond his mishap: Did the Marines create a dangerous precedent by relieving Del Pizzo One that makes pilots hesitate to punch out of a malfunctioning aircraft from another altitude: As everything from cars to fighter jets become more dependent on technology who’s to blame when those machines fail you They’re displayed on the laptop he opened recently on the countertop of a mostly empty house near Washington smiling in a cockpit of a retired A-4 Skyhawk at a Florida air base A huge white helmet covered the boy’s bright red hair swallowed up by his dad’s khaki uniform shirt with his Navy wings and ribbons grinning even more in his dad’s Navy dress jacket the house had an echo that empty houses have He’d arrived that morning after driving from Yuma in a rented U-Haul Del Pizzo is a thin man with thick hair that’s still red He doesn’t quite fit the movie star version of the cocky fighter jet jock He’s confident but freely tosses out self-deprecating jokes He speaks more easily about others in his life than himself Next to his laptop on the kitchen counter was the metal canteen cup his grandfather carried in World War II hand-etched with the European countries he marched through under Gen “He was a poor Italian kid in Philly who married the rich Irish girl he met at church one of those guys who could hear a song once and then play it on the piano without taking lessons.” Del Pizzo thought he’d end up in the Navy like his father it's funny what you lose in generations — like I have no Italian language skills his father flew jets for the now-defunct Eastern Airlines and I don’t remember a time in my life growing up that I didn’t want to fly jets just like my dad.” he did boot camp at Parris Island in South Carolina but he still thought he'd end up in the Navy like his father mixing college with military training during summers The Marines offered him a faster route to flying jets than the Navy After graduating with a degree in criminal justice he flew straight into flight school in Pensacola and his love of flight only grew as he logged more time in the air: the eerie night skies the early mornings when you broke through the cloud bank and saw the rising sun resting on top of it I feel like that's where I'm supposed to be muscular aircraft that was the first fighter to take off and land vertically like a helicopter His call sign was “Cheez,” which loosely rhymed with the way he pronounced Del Pizzo (Peezo) The Harrier’s ability to hover allowed pilots to land without runways Del Pizzo was deployed to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom and his father met him just as he was about to leave so he was a little surprised when his father hugged him and said: “You know But soon Del Pizzo was crossing into Iraqi airspace with 11 other Harriers and hundreds of U.S The darkening sky was filled with Iraqi long-range artillery shells flying over them He saw explosions over a hill where Marines on the ground breached a defense But when it came time to drop his 1,000-pound bomb act: Continue with the mission and get the jet back to the base he was flying a Harrier to New Mexico for an exercise main displays and systems that stabilized the plane He worked with air traffic controllers to guide him in Military aviators who knew him said he had an uncanny ability to stay “ahead of the jet” — calmly manage a flood of information about targets he was the guy you wanted to lead the mission,” said Guy Berry a retired Marine lieutenant colonel and former Harrier pilot and Del Pizzo’s trajectory through the Marine Corps moved upward and steady: deployments to Afghanistan Kuwait and Japan; deployments to Bahrain for combat missions into Syria for Operation Inherent Resolve He flew Harriers off amphibious assault ships he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff working on Southeast Asia policy and with Navy staff on amphibious expedition warfare He worked in the F-35 Joint Program Office where he served as the senior Marine representative and at Marine Headquarters he was selected to take command of Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 in Yuma It was a choice assignment where Marines test their aircraft to make sure procedures and standards work in real-world scenarios commanding VMX-1 would be the pinnacle of his career as a military aviator Good procedures and standards tested in Yuma could save Marines’ lives in the field But he wouldn’t formally take command that year and he was assigned more duties at the Pentagon he also needed to learn how to fly the F-35B Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort is home of the “Warlords,” Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 A slight rise offers a brief view of runways and khaki outdoor canopies shading F-35Bs "The 'noise' you hear is the sound of freedom." It’s one of two Marine F-35B training centers It has advanced simulators and a time-tested curriculum He flew an F-35B for the first time in April 2023 returning to the Beaufort base with a smile on his face The jet was the most impressive machine he’d ever flown a mind meld with computers and brute force As a future commander of VMX-1, he needed to know as much about the F-35B as possible. The F-35 is the military’s most ambitious weapons system, a $2 trillion investment over the next 50 years in the nation’s air defense capabilities which has a more robust structure for carrier landings All three variants have a stealthy shape and advanced composite shells to evade enemy radar But its real value is in the electronics inside; computers and sensors take over some of the pilot’s duties directing other planes to their targets or serving as forward spotters for ground artillery But complex systems can come with potential flaws; because these systems build on one another After you pull the ejection handle on a fighter jet straps on the seat instantly pin your arms and legs so they don’t flail when you hit the slipstream Air bags inflate around your neck and head A line of explosives above your head shatters the canopy launching you and the seat with a force 18 times greater than gravity Fighter pilots know that about one of 10 ejections lead to death and one out of 3 end up with spinal damage or other severe injuries Shards of metal dug into his neck from the explosives that blasted the canopy apart my helmet and mask got ripped off in the wind stream “I remember feeling the precipitation on my face and then just being pulled back as the drogue chute opened and slowed me down.” (A drogue chute is a small parachute that stops the pilot from tumbling.) “And I could hear the engine noise from the airplane And that's when I thought the airplane is going to come down and hit me because I felt like the airplane was out of control and I'm going to die here in this parachute.” He wouldn’t learn until much later that after he ejected the jet converted from its vertical mode to conventional and kept flying but no sign of the plane crash; he was above a neighborhood act: A survival kit attached to a lanyard dangled below him; he released it to avoid snagging in the wires; he reached up for the chute’s toggles and steered toward a house He aimed for a backyard about the size of an average living room He walked to the house’s backdoor and knocked “They were looking at me in my wet flight suit in their backyard with me telling them I needed to call 911.” a woman and her son ushered him into the kitchen The father helped Del Pizzo stop some bleeding from the shrapnel wounds and after briefly talking to the dispatcher “I’m the pilot,” Del Pizzo can be heard saying in the recording and Del Pizzo said it was unfair to criticize her as some on social media did after news organizations posted the 911 recording Something that dispatchers probably wouldn’t see in their own training Uppermost in his mind as he talked to the dispatcher and arriving paramedics: What happened to the jet “My biggest fear was that I’d hurt someone.” and they sped to the Medical University of South Carolina in downtown Charleston he accidentally pocket-dialed his eldest teenage son who could only hear voices and sirens in the background who was at their youngest son’s flag football game He knew that mishaps trigger investigations Protocols required him to keep details at a minimum So the conversation was short on specifics he kept asking if the plane crash had hurt anyone “I thought the plane would come down in someone’s backyard He was so baffled that at one point he turned to a doctor ‘Am I dead?’ No one could give me any information about the airplane.” an unintended incident that leads to a death injury or significant property damage is called a “mishap” — not an accident — and mishaps trigger a cascade of investigations The probes into Del Pizzo’s mishap were especially sensitive given the secrecy of the F-35’s stealth technology and capabilities Instead of the smoking hole he expected below him the jet climbed at a 5-degree angle to about 9,300 feet The jet crashed near a swamp and fields in a community called Indiantown Investigators later pegged its speed on impact at 635 mph In heavily redacted documents later released by the military investigators also described an “electrical malfunction” that knocked out radios landing guidance systems and a key transponder that would have automatically sent the jet’s location to air traffic controllers The loss of that tracking device and the jet’s stealthy design made it more difficult to pinpoint the crash site It didn’t help when an Air Force spokesperson sought help from the public Memes popped up with a sign on a telephone pole with a photo of an F-35 and a caption: “Have you seen this plane?” Could the military really lose such a connected plane Del Pizzo suspected an electrically charged media storm was brewing outside A Marine buddy showed up after driving all night from North Carolina “He was following things on social media and said Del Pizzo heard the commandant of the Marines Maybe it was merely an effort to express concern to a fellow Marine But such a conversation could go against standard protocols to keep investigations as objective and influence-free as possible “I think it was surrounding some of the things going on in the media at the time,” Del Pizzo said He learned later that a senior officer persuaded Smith not to talk to him It was a hint of the mishap’s sensitivity and the trouble to come After about 24 hours without a crash site location a South Carolina Civil Air Patrol team identified a promising target near Hemingway based on its analysis of radar pings Residents told them they’d heard a loud bang and flash that Sunday afternoon A military fire official noted scorched trees near Boggy Swamp and found the debris But more questions lingered as military workers sealed off the site: Why did Del Pizzo eject when the plane continued to fly Had something gone wrong with the plane's technology He had cracked vertebrae in his lower and middle back they went to Charleston International Airport and waited for a flight back to Washington “It was good to get out of that area because so many people were talking about it,” Jessica Del Pizzo recalled “But I remember that at the airport we looked at each other and said how weird it was to be getting in an airplane.” Three separate investigations would explore what happened and why A Navy Aviation Mishap Board had teams of F-35 aviators Its goal was to identify mistakes and weaknesses and draw up lessons to prevent future mishaps Underlying the board’s work were legal protections that prevented superiors from punishing pilots and crews for anything they told investigators Results of this investigation aren’t released to the public The second investigation was the Field Flight Performance Board it also included experienced military aviators and experts The board's report typically isn't released to the public The third was the Marines’ Command Investigation Their goal is primarily legal: to determine whether a pilot engaged in misconduct Results of this investigation can be released to the public The first two investigations came to similar conclusions officials knowledgeable about the reports’ contents and documents obtained by The Post and Courier through open records laws: Del Pizzo’s aircraft experienced a significant electrical malfunction one that knocked out key systems — including displays and navigation aids he needed to land in severe weather making it difficult to contact air traffic controllers or his wingman for guidance A small backup display was partially functional This and the zero-visibility conditions likely contributed to a phenomenon known as spatial disorientation where your inner ear tricks you into feeling that you’re dizzy or falling Both investigations noted that nothing in the military’s training and simulator work prepared pilots for a crescendo of systems failures in severe weather at a low altitude “the aircraft is considered to be in out of controlled flight (OCF) when it fails to respond properly to pilot inputs,” adding “if out of control below 6,000 feet AGL (above ground level): EJECT.” Both investigations concluded that most highly experienced pilots with similar levels of experience in an F-35 would have punched out of the plane The Field Flight Performance Board lauded Del Pizzo’s record and potential to move on after the mishap “Colonel Del Pizzo is a career-long high performing naval aviator and Marine officer There is no indication that Colonel Del Pizzo was overconfident in his abilities or reckless in mission execution … The board unanimously believes that Colonel Del Pizzo exercised sound judgment in his actions on 17 September 2023.” And both investigation boards made numerous recommendations including new scenarios in simulators and changes in training that was how the system was supposed to work But the officer in charge of the third investigation came to a different conclusion The officer agreed that Del Pizzo followed procedures under difficult conditions and that Del Pizzo didn’t engage in any misconduct he found the mishap “occurred as a result of pilot error in that the MP (mishap pilot) incorrectly diagnosed an OCF flight emergency and ejected from a flyable aircraft.” His report pegged the cost of the plane's loss at $136 million Del Pizzo reviewed that report in early 2024 while still recovering from his broken back Without a massive system failure while flying blind in the clouds This investigation also went beyond its normal scope of determining misconduct which Del Pizzo and other experienced aviators interviewed for this story said was highly unusual But Command Investigation reports typically didn’t carry the same weight as the other two safety investigations And the report’s conclusion that he was to blame didn’t seem to affect his career arc and he was cleared to fly fighter jets again feeling a sense of gratitude for another chance Those flights also would solve another mystery he heard what he thought was the engine spooling down But flying again in the F-35B he realized it wasn’t the engine it was the powerful lift fan the plane uses in hover mode The sound of the fan slowing down contributed to the illusion that he’d lost power and was falling An important lesson to pass on to future pilots And he was still on track to take command of VMX-1 in Arizona 'Am I good?' Almost every week." They kept giving him the green light "The aviation leadership couldn't have been more supportive." he received the Legion of Merit for his work at the Pentagon visited Yuma that summer and seemed pleased Smith asked him about his future career plans Del Pizzo said that he was weighing his options Smith told him that command of VMX-1 wasn’t his last chapter as a Marine “We put you here for a reason,” which Del Pizzo interpreted as a vote of confidence in his future in the Marines Marine officers are regularly evaluated for their fitness to command a report card of sorts that the commandant uses for promotions one report in mid-2024 said: “Absolutely must promote GO (general) potential … Cheez is a pure professional with unlimited future potential … Has my highest recommendation for promotion.” Another report later in 2024 said Del Pizzo’s work in Yuma was “setting the course for Marine Aviation’s future … highest recommendation for promotion … Place where our Corps’ hardest problems must be solved … Col Del Pizzo’s potential in our Corps is unlimited.” So he was stunned when he got the call last October: After 103 days of command in Yuma The news came in a video call with one of the two generals who had written that Del Pizzo had unlimited promotion potential “I thought it was just a chance to catch up,” Del Pizzo recalled I get some one-on-one time with the bosses and talk about how things are going.’ ” the conversation moved immediately to the mishap The lieutenant general told him he’d done nothing wrong during his command in Yuma but that a press release was about to be issued about Command Investigation’s findings had reviewed the report again and decided that Del Pizzo shouldn’t have such a high-visibility command the ones that concluded Del Pizzo hadn’t been at fault The Marines would explain the sudden relief of command by saying it was due to a “loss of trust and confidence,” which hit Del Pizzo like a dagger because it implied misconduct Del Pizzo asked if he could have a small change of command ceremony — hand over the squadron’s flag as a way of thanking the people who had been so welcoming when he took over sailors and civilians under his command in Yuma were told that he had been relieved for “misdiagnosis of an out-of-control flight situation.” Until then only a small circle of people knew he’d ejected from the F-35B in South Carolina She wondered why he didn't just send her a text she struggled to understand the timing and the treatment All three investigations had been done in early 2024 but the Marines still gave him a green light to take command Why put him and his family through a cross-country move What had changed between early 2024 and that fall Del Pizzo asked to speak to the commandant directly But in 2023, the year of Del Pizzo’s mishap, F-35Bs were fully available for missions only 15 to 36 percent of the time, the Government Accountability Office reported Critics of the F-35 cite the program’s costs and manufacturing delays One big concern has been the jet's computers and software The exact cause of the electrical malfunction in Del Pizzo’s mishap is hidden in redacted documents pages the military said it blacked out for national security purposes but bolts at the time of the mishap were 20 miles away and couldn’t have fried the plane’s electronics Investigators noted that the aircraft entered heavy rain five minutes before Del Pizzo ejected But a Marine spokesperson said its investigation found no evidence that rainwater caused the electrical malfunction he’s a big cheerleader of the technology and the jet’s potential He sees its evolution through the lens of a Harrier pilot Harriers had even more issues but became one of the military’s aviation stalwarts because of constant improvements in technology and procedures He’d seen firsthand during his work at the Pentagon how tirelessly people in the F-35 program were working to do the same for that jet which is one reason he was so concerned about the way he was relieved of command Punishing him moved the spotlight away from the jet’s issues “We needed to take a hard look at that to prevent it from happening again,” he said then people are going to be paralyzed and not be able to make decisions Some active duty and retired military aviators familiar with Del Pizzo's situation were appalled by his treatment "We fired a guy because of a press release," said one Another added that the treatment of Del Pizzo sends a dangerous message: If you eject "The easiest thing to do is blame the pilot." The Post and Courier provided officials at Marine Headquarters with a list of questions about the commandant's decision to relieve Del Pizzo the timing of his order and whether he factored in whether his decision set a dangerous precedent for Marine aviators in the future Marine officials acknowledged receiving the questions but did not provide any answers There’s an aviation metaphor that business leaders and self-help gurus often deploy: During a flight a plane is off-course 90 percent of the time Reaching a destination means constant adjustments to turbulence Lives and careers have their own kinds of turbulence and course-changers As Del Pizzo recently unpacked his U-Haul at the family’s newly rented home near Washington namely what it was like to be newly retired from an institution that had for so long been part of his identity though his mind also can start spinning what-ifs What if the forecast had been more accurate What if the cloud cover had been just a few hundred feet higher and he’d been able to see the ground What if he had radio contact and could talk to his wingman The commandant's order to relieve him probably killed any chances of promotion The deeper pain comes from what happened more than a year after he pulled the ejection handle “Maybe it was just a business decision,” Del Pizzo said of the commandant’s move to relieve him of command “But there's a human element that you have to take care of You can't just discard someone because it's inconvenient or a bad headline You need to make sure you take care of the people That's how you maintain that culture of trust.” schoolyard sounds could be heard in the distance Yellow-and-gray plastic moving crates were stacked in the living room You’re still part of a group of people who helped forge who you are He’d soon head back to Yuma to close the house down there flying into the new unknowns of civilian life questions lingering in the slipstream of 41 seconds of sensory chaos above North Charleston and 31 years as a Marine that ended because of someone else’s decision This story began with the mystery surrounding the ejection and crash in 2023 — and the length of time the Marines took to answer basic questions about what happened and why Tony Bartelme’s previous reports in 2024 dove deep into the F-35’s history and pros and cons Charles “Tre” Del Pizzo’s decision to tell his story answers many of those questions He agreed to do so because he said he hoped lessons could be learned to help future Marines To corroborate his story and other aspects of military investigation procedures The Post and Courier interviewed a half-dozen military aviators The newspaper also interviewed F-35 experts The newspaper obtained more than 700 pages of heavily redacted documents about the incident from the Defense Department and local law enforcement agencies Del Pizzo provided documentation of his military record and fitness reports for our review Bartelme and Robert Scheer traveled to Washington, D.C., for in-person interviews. Funding for the project was supported by the newspaper’s nonprofit Public Service and Investigative Fund Our public service and investigative reporting is among the most important work we do It’s also the most expensive reporting we do (WCIV) — One person died in a fatal collision early Sunday morning on I-526 Police said officers responded to reports of a crash around 1:30 a.m on I-526 westbound between Leeds Avenue and the Westmoreland Bridge officers discovered the "apparent" collision between a tow truck and another vehicle NCPD said the female driver of the vehicle was pronounced deceased on the scene READ MORE | "1 dog dead after it was bitten by a service dog: Police report" The NCPD Traffic Unit and Charleston County Coroner's Office are investigating the incident The coroner's office has yet to release the identity of the deceased Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCHARLESTON (WCSC) - The state’s Department of Natural Resources says five counties across South Carolina including three in the Lowcountry are in the second level of drought severity of four Berkeley and Georgetown Counties are in the moderate drought stage The rest of the state’s 41 counties are in an “incipient” drought the second phase on the five-point scale that ranges from “normal” to “extreme.” Most of the state has recorded below normal rainfall since late last fall with some stations in the Coastal Plain and Pee Dee regions receiving less than 60% of normal rainfall throughout winter and spring 42% of normal rainfall totals expected from Jan North Charleston’s rainfall station had the lowest percentage of normal precipitation recorded according to the state’s Drought Response Committee Department of Environmental Services provided an update on streamflow below-normal streamflow conditions in the counties of the upstate provided support for maintaining an Incipient drought status for this area Counties in the central Santee River Basin are also experiencing declining streamflow and groundwater levels which supported an upgrade to Incipient status for these counties while below normal groundwater levels in Berkeley and Charleston counties supported an upgrade to Moderate status for these two counties below-normal streamflow levels in the Pee Dee region supported maintaining Incipient drought status in most counties and an upgrade to Moderate status for Marion and Horry counties with 14-day average flows in the Waccamaw River near Longs reaching a two-percentile flow the South Carolina Forestry Commission responded to 301 fires that burned 7,264 acres Since the beginning of the year there has been 21.4% more fires compared with the 10-year normal or 1,418 fires this year compared with the 10-year average of 1,168 South Carolina has seen 176.5% greater-than-normal acreage burned this year compared with the 10-year average with the total acreage burned this year standing at 30,965 becoming NNW and decreasing to less than 5 mph. becoming NNW and decreasing to less than 5 mph The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort is among nine other hotels in South Carolina that made Travel + Leisure's '500' list The International African American Museum's "Unsettled Things" exhibit is on display through May 4 A boutique hotel is proposed for 657 King St. A sign in the security line at Charleston International Airport reminds travelers to get the REAL ID designation ahead of the May 7 deadline Ten hotels across South Carolina got a nod in a Travel + Leisure's worldwide-ranking two museums offer free ticket to Bank of America cardholders Ten South Carolina hotels have been named among the best in the world by Travel + Leisure The list of the top 500 hotels comes from the publication's World's Best Awards reader survey. This year's list included seven Charleston-area hotels and three others across South Carolina The list includes The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort Wentworth Mansion and Zero George from the Charleston area Hotel Hartness in Greenville and The Willcox in Aiken also made the list Governor Henry McMaster proclaimed May 4-10 is Travel and Tourism Week in South Carolina to honor the Palmetto State’s more than $30 billion tourism industry The proclamation was unveiled during an event at the Governor’s Mansion which gathered tourism leaders from every corner of the state The event highlighted the role our state’s Welcome Centers and local visitor centers play in the overall tourism industry spoke at the event praising the state's Front Porch Program which staffs state welcome centers with tourism officials "The Front Porch Program has been an invaluable asset in amplifying Berkeley County's tourism reach,” Knight said “By actively engaging with the dedicated staff at South Carolina's Welcome Centers we've been able to directly connect with travelers as they begin their journeys through our state A friendly welcome paired with a local recommendation makes visitors to the Berkeley County Welcome Center feel comfortable and connected to our community." The nationwide celebration of National Travel and Tourism Week was created by Congress in 1983 to promote travel Residents and visitors can enjoy free general admission at two downtown Charleston attractions May 3-4 albeit with one crucial detail: They have to be a Bank of America cardholder The Charlotte-based lender's Museums on Us program offers tickets for the International African American Museum and Gibbes Museum of Art on the first weekend monthly This weekend is the last chance to see ‘Unsettled Things: Art from an African American South’ at IAAM Meanwhile the ‘Beeple’ exhibit at the Gibbes Museum ends May 11 Tickets must be redeemed in person with a Bank of America-issued credit or debit card A proposed 27-key hotel in downtown Charleston is heading back before the city's Board of Architectural Review for conceptual approval was restructured under new ownership to become a suite-style boutique hotel Plans show a first-floor restaurant and café If the hotel eventually gains the three stamps of approval from the city board it would be King Street's northernmost lodging to date ID enforcement at Charleston International and other airports across the country are about to get "real" as the May 7 deadline approaches for flyers to have their Real ID in hand The Transportation Security Administration and the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles are reminding travelers to ensure they have a REAL ID-compliant form of identification if they are boarding an airplane for a domestic flight on or after May 7 Travelers without an approved form of ID after the deadline could face delays at airport security checkpoints proof of Real ID will be required to board a domestic flight enter a secure federal building or visit a military installation The 13-acre property at 2970 Roseville Road on Wadmalaw Island is listed for $10.5 million The arched ceilings inside 2970 Roseville Road on Wadmalaw Island are meant to mirror the bow of a ship The kitchen at 2970 Roseville Road on Wadmalaw Island includes a double-sided fireplace A covered walkway connects a home gym and the main house at 2970 Roseville Road on Wadmalaw Island The master bathroom at 2970 Roseville Road on Wadmalaw Island The master bedroom at 2970 Roseville Road on Wadmalaw Island The wrought-iron staircase at 2970 Roseville Road on Wadmalaw Island One of two guest houses at 2970 Roseville Road on Wadmalaw Island A 13-acre waterfront home on Wadmalaw Island in South Carolina is listed for $10.5 million a potential record for the area if it sells for asking price A waterfront home on Wadmalaw Island has hit the market, and if sold would be the most expensive ever for the area tucked behind Seabrook Island The asking price for the property at 2970 Roseville Road is $10.6 million — nearly double the current record transaction of $5.9 million held since 2021 the new multi-million dollar listing is tucked amid 13 acres of landscaping The house pays tribute to its maritime location with a number of details its dolphin-emblemed iron gates and especially in the interior of the house which is designed to mirror a ship said listing agent Bobby Shealy with Charleston's ERA Wilder Realty "The house is inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's designs and built to mirror a ship's bow with a two-story living room with arched mahogany ceilings," Shealy said The property has more than 1,000 feet of direct frontage along the Bohicket River A previous owner built a private boardwalk overlooking the river "Along the water more than 450 feet of that is the boardwalk the seller put in so you feel like you’re at a park," he said He purchased the property in 2012 for $4.2 million comprises 6,800 square feet with a foyer featuring travertine tile an inlaid dolphin medallion and a handcrafted wrought iron staircase Floor-to-ceiling windows show panoramic views of the river The first level includes a two-story room divided into two separate sitting areas connected by a double-sided fireplace A gourmet kitchen gives away to a large dining room with even more water views Sleeping quarters include a primary suite and a third-floor retreat and a private guest wing with its own entrance Passing under the house's covered walkway is an extra room that serves as the current owner's private gym you’ve got the main house that's almost 7,000 square feet with just master and two-story living room and everything is glass overlooking the water," Shealy said Two secondary residences also sit within the 13-acre site A 2,100-square foot guest house along the water offers two bedrooms A third building has a large two-bedroom guest suite with a kitchenette Shealy imagines the buyer is someone from out of state looking for a secondary residence given it "falls into the luxury category "I’ve been in the business 25 years and sold everywhere — downtown Charleston "I've sold a lot of distinctive high-end properties over the years Move-ins and new leases are reducing an excess of Class A office space in the Charleston area and the easing rents are sparking activity in downtown and North Charleston according to Colliers' 2025 first quarter office report "The Charleston market saw several quarters of increasing demand culminate in its highest absorption in a year at 90,244 square feet," Will Schenk South Carolina market analyst for Colliers "Downtown and Lower North Charleston Class A and B spaces captured the bulk of new absorption emphasizing the attractiveness of the market’s core as tenants seek to maximize amenities over commute times in a push towards return-to-office." Colliers reported most of the recently delivered space is fully leased or nearly so with average lease sizes inching toward 5,000 square feet after remaining relatively low in 2024 Recent office transactions include the leasing of 12,100 square feet at 4390 Belle Oaks Drive 10,000 square feet at 3955 Faber Place Drive and 10,500 square feet at 8 Storehouse Row on the Navy Yard All locations are in the lower North Charleston area a 67,900-square-foot office building at 5900 Core Road had previously owned the property since 2004 when it changed hands for $5.5 million A Mount Pleasant residence recently gained attention for its chef's kitchen The house at 228 Haddrell St., within the Old Village, was one of six dream homes featured in The Week The article highlighted houses from across the U.S. including two in Utah and a kitchen with a stove nook in New York "The renovated kitchen in this 1992 four-bedroom features patterned tiling a Sub-Zero fridge and a separate beverage sink," The Week wrote "The kitchen opens to a dining room with a checkerboard floor Featuring four bedrooms and four bathrooms the 3,803-square-foot house on Shem Creek is currently listed for sale for $6.3 million by William Means Real Estate An industrial investment property at 3821 W The property consists of 2,347 square feet of flex/warehouse space on .34 acres of laydown yard is listed as JPM W Montague LLC of Charleston who was also represented by NAI Charleston purchased the property in 2022 for $478,500 Editorials represent the institutional view of the newspaper They are written and edited by the editorial staff which operates separately from the news department Editorial writers are not involved in newsroom operations Viewing Dockside condominiums from the north you can see its neighboring townhomes to the left and right of its structurally problematic tower Charleston's new International African American Museum sits just to the south of the Dockside condo tower Perhaps the city of Charleston should allow residents of Dockside Condominium's townhomes — the shorter structures just to the north of the structurally problematic tower — to return to their units provided they sign a waiver holding the city harmless should all or part of the tower collapse It's been more than two months since city code officials ordered the tower to be evacuated and there seems to be more that we don't know than what we do know: Will it be repaired What's the timetable for figuring this out We need a better grip on its potential public safety threat not only to anyone who ventures inside the tower itself (as residents and their movers are doing in limited numbers for several more weeks) but also to those standing nearby That includes not only those on Dockside property but also those walking on the city promenade between the tower and the harbor and those on the grounds of the new International African American Museum next door As The Post and Courier's Ali Rockett reports some townhome residents say that question — what collateral damage could be caused if Dockside succumbed to a fate similar to the occupied condominium building in Surfside And therefore the city's decision to require the townhomes to remain unoccupied was arbitrary and should be reversed At least four townhome residents had filed appeals of the city's decision, and some have a letter from a principal engineer at Origin Cause saying a recent structural report on Dockside did not assert that the townhomes are structurally deficient nor did it provide a specific collapse impact zone The city's Building Code Board of Appeal was scheduled to hear the petitions on April 21 but the matter was pushed back and is now to be heard Monday said her townhome is farther from the tower than the museum next door "If no conclusive engineering evidence supports the need to vacate," she says "residents should not be displaced unnecessarily." We agree that residents should not be displaced unnecessarily that not enough area around the tower is being closed We don't know who has the greater burden here Do the townhome residents who want to return to their homes next to the tower have the responsibility of proving their homes are safe Or are city officials responsible for producing evidence detailing how a tower failure could impact spaces nearby The structural report that led to the shuttering of the Dockside tower does not go far enough to illuminate the full scope of the public safety risk We do know a reputable engineering company has said Dockside's design and construction are similarly vulnerable to the punching sheer failure believed to have brought down Champlain Towers South in Florida The report also noted that more than 80% of the junctions where Dockside tower's support columns meet its concrete slabs have not been tested Click here for more opinion content from The Post and Courier (WCIV) — The North Charleston Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday A police report states an officer was called to Rolling Fork Road at around 1:17 a.m in reference to someone beating on windows and asking for help The officer said he found a man lying on his stomach in the entranceway to one of the units on top of a large amount of blood READ MORE | "2nd suspect arrested in Johnson Street shooting that left 1 dead: CPD" The report states the officer began rendering aid before EMS arrived after which they took over the medical aid Police said no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing The coroner's office has not yet identified the victim The renovated John Rudolph Switzer House at 6 Montagu Street The John Rudolph Switzer House at 6 Montagu from the past Historic Charleston Foundation celebrated its Charter Day event by recognizing preservation efforts that included repairs to a fire-damaged home on Montagu Street and the rebuilding of Charleston's Low Battery Sea Wall CHARLESTON — Claron “Rob” Robertson gazed out his front window at the big house across the street for 45 years. He watched generations of renters come and go from the apartments inside. He saw it suffer severe fire damage in 2016 he bought the house on Montagu Street himself in 2022 convert the historic structure back to a single-family home and then place the house back on the market but it developed one wrinkle — Robertson ended up falling head over heels for the place almost an obsession with me to make it extraordinary," said Robertson describing the rehabilitation of the house built in 1803 as "a love affair that started out as a real estate investment." Robertson’s award highlights his investment at the John Rudolph Switzer House at 6 Montagu Street and his collaboration with architect Simons Young and assorted builders and designers This team partially reconstructed a central staircase previously removed from the house and repaired and replaced ornate woodwork and plaster work The changes initiated by Robertson impressed April Wood Historic Charleston Foundation’s director of preservation “He put his whole heart in that project,” said Wood The foundation also recognized the City of Charleston for its reconstruction of the Low Battery Sea Wall around the tip of the Charleston peninsula scheduled to finish later this year after six years of work raised the nearly mile-long sea wall by three feet and improved drainage in the South of Broad neighborhood The new sea wall “set a precedent for high-value urban design,” said Wood which is important as the city considers more robust protections from storms and rising seas She applauded the city for paying for the new sea wall with accommodations taxes “using tourism dollars to benefit both tourists and the people who live here.” The new sea wall makes use of an existing foundation Some materials removed during the project were reused such as old portions of the seawall that were crushed to make new paving New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church on Elizabeth Street is just starting to make repairs of its roof Historic Charleston Foundation recognized Artis Construction for working with the church to prioritize repairs and create budgets for the roof’s rehabilitation These pro bono efforts include an analysis of the church’s slate roof and framing timbers and creating a digital model of the structure which has caused walls and columns to fall prompted the Gothic Revival church to close in 2021 out of concern for safety the church has been awarded a grant of $100,000 from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and $50,000 from the S.C Artis helped coordinate the installation of a temporary roof covering called a Smart Tarp “It’s not a solution but it buys us time for our planning project.” said the roof tarp will give the sanctuary "a chance to dry out." She praised Artis Construction for helping the church figure out the costs of the extensive repair work that is needed "Their services have just been invaluable." Tyrone Manigo complimented Artis Construction for their "tireless effort" and for helping to "bring us into the future with our historical church." He said New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church Other preservation award winners include:  (WCIV) — Two suspects are at large after a car was stolen from a North Charleston Home Thursday Officers arrived at the scene of the stolen vehicle at approximately 6:47 p.m. reportedly observed a damaged car pushed partially in the roadway and the homeowners garage door smashed inwards Witnesses told officers that at some point during the night someone stole a vehicle the suspects took the key to the stolen vehicle out of the center console of another unlocked vehicle in the driveway and attempted to drive away Recovered security camera footage reportedly shows two unknown suspects take the key from an unlocked car and though the camera does not show the vehicles officers reported that a crashing noise and the screeching of tires could he heard in the video Officers reported that the video evidence led them to believe that the suspects backed into the garage door and then travelled rapidly forward hitting another vehicle in the driveway forcing it out of its spot and into the roadway The suspects then fled in an unknown direction Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact the North Charleston Police Department (WCIV) — A man was arrested Thursday after a late night armed robbery in North Charleston of North Charleston was arrested and faces charges for armed robbery and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime officers responded to the scene of a reported robbery While approaching the location they encountered an individual matching the given description of the suspect The individual now identified as White reportedly removed a handgun from his waistband and tossed it to the ground nearby as officers approached White was placed in handcuffs while officers retrieved the disposed loaded handgun and interviewed the victim Police state that the victim reported that they had an argument with White in which he removed the gun from his waistband and pointed it at the victim White was taken into custody and transported to Charleston County Detention Center opens the door into an inflatable theater that seats 40 and displays shows and presentations overhead inside the theater Planetarium presenter Nick Smith uses a projector to blast the ceiling of an inflatable theater with a presentation about Chile and the telescopes all over their desert at the Charleston Planetarium a planetarium presenter that studies astronomy at College of Charleston uses a tablet to swap between shows and displays on an outer space map at the Charleston Planetarium inside if Citadel Mall Planetarium presenters Nick Smith and Cesare Harvey talk with Sandra Vaughn and Jim Green after a show at the Charleston Planetarium The entrance to the Charleston Planetarium that’s across the corner from Planet Fitness inside the Citadel Mall A pair of refraction telescopes sit on display inside the Charleston Planetarium in the Citadel Mall A series of models shows the comparative size of planets in our solar system at the Charleston Planetarium A gift shop area inside the Charleston Planetarium inside of Citadel Mall that just opened to the public exclaims and brings his friends on a birthday party trip over to pictures of the solar system’s planets at the Charleston Planetarium Owner Paul Gangarosa wants the space to be "the Mecca for STEM" in Charleston Here are some of our most read articles that might interest you Be Kind Charleston recently announced the launch of Hearts in Our Hands: Mount Pleasant Kindness Kard Kits, a creative new initiative made possible through a grant from the God’s Secret Service Agents (GSSA) Foundation. This program is fiscally sponsored by CharlestonGood.com Designed to spark compassion and creativity Hearts in Our Hands equips families and children in Mount Pleasant with free Kindness Kard Kits — each containing blank cards volunteers commit to making at least 20 uplifting cards to be hand-delivered to nursing home residents across the community participants will return them to designated drop-off points bundled and delivered to nursing home residents in Mount Pleasant offering a heartfelt reminder that they are seen and valued The initiative not only spreads joy to seniors, but also cultivates empathy and community connection among young volunteers. Participants will have the option to share their creations and be featured on the Be Kind Charleston (bekindcharleston.org) Be Kind Charleston invites the public to follow the journey and receive updates by subscribing at bekindcharleston.org For media inquiries, email: hello@bekindcharleston.org #BeKindCharleston #KindnessKardKits #TinaArnoldi #MountPleasantNews by Lauren Lennon (WCIV) — The sudden mandatory evacuation of a downtown residential building is back in the spotlight Monday as City of Charleston leaders are set to yet again meet to discuss the Dockside Condominiums the city of Charleston’s Building Codes Board of Appeals agenda includes appeals from those who had to evacuate from the Dockside townhomes “The order as the townhomes is without any engineering proof of being deficient or in danger from the tower should it collapse.” residents in Dockside Condominiums were asked to evacuate due to a '"potential structural issue" as stated by the Dockside Board of Directors The building has faced structural issues as recently as two years ago in 2023 It wasn’t until last month that residents were able to return to their homes in Dockside to retrieve larger items as part of the building’s 11-week plan to have residents moved out by early July a lot of residents noted they felt like they were in the dark during this situation saying they didn’t know what was happening READ MORE | Charleston condo residents seek justice as legal battle over forced evacuation begins lawyers representing residents have announced they're investigating and considering legal action “What we know at this point is that the owners of these units are not getting many answers and when your entire life is inside of a building you cannot enter not getting answers is not an option," said one lawyer The Building Codes Board of Appeals meeting is scheduled for this afternoon at 4:30 pm Owner Paul Gangarosa wants the space to be 'the Mecca for STEM' in Charleston Maddy Quon covers Charleston County for The Post and Courier Maddy graduated from the University of Mississippi where she studied journalism WEST ASHLEY — An out of this world experience has officially launched in Charleston The nonprofit Charleston Planetarium Society held its grand opening for the Charleston Planetarium on May 3 in the Citadel Mall located just across from the Planet Fitness Walls were lined with exhibits detailing all the planets and Apollo missions Visitors looked through a refracting telescope and took pictures in front of a backdrop of Earth from the perspective of the moon Some took a seat in a small viewing area that screened the movie "Apollo 13," while others perused the gift shop arcade game Galaga and freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches But at the center of the room is the main attraction — the planetarium itself The inflatable dome that seats 40 people and has a projector that displays all the programming show about a dog named Max who takes a trip to the moon kids ooh and ahh over the visual of the sky as it changes throughout the show "Look up!" 3-year-old Caleb Fitts shouted to his parents as he pointed to the stars The display of astonishment was owner Paul Gangarosa's goal in opening the planetarium While Charleston has countless attractions for its history Gangarosa said there's not much in the city for STEM: science "We want to be the Mecca for STEM,” Gangarosa said "I would love to live long enough to see somebody living on Mars saying 'I got interested in space because of the Charleston Planetarium.' " the planetarium has been well-received so far roughly 40 people lined up outside before it opened and more trickled in as the day progressed West Ashley resident Leroy Monn was the first in line He said they were all excited as soon as they had heard a planetarium was coming to the Citadel Mall Monn even has an app on his phone that will show him the constellations from wherever he is. He said he's visited other planetariums across the country and finds them interesting Gangarosa said the planetarium will stay Citadel Mall for two or three years but ultimately he hopes a dedicated location is built Gangarosa said at a permanent location he'd want to include an air and space museum conference space and a rooftop restaurant that doubles as an observatory was happy for the opportunity to be part of the grand opening He said he never expected a planetarium to come to Charleston and hopes it helps people expand their knowledge and imagination when it comes to space brought his daughter Addison and nephew Cayden Stegall Justin and Cayden sat a table in a corner coloring — Cayden drew Earth and Uranus on the back of the coloring sheets — while Addison showed off her shooting star face paint Justin Fulford said they're visiting because both kids love planets But they said they wouldn't want to go to outer space — eating cookies in a spaceship would be too messy The three watched a show about how different cultures made their own constellations Addison said her favorite constellation story was about Artemis and Orion Both kids said they'd love to come back before dragging Fulford to the gift shop The planetarium is open from Wednesday to Saturday from 12 p.m The space will also be available for school trips $10 for kids ages 8-17 and $5 for kids ages 4-7 For more information, go to charlestonplanetarium.org Reach Maddy Quon at mquon@postandcourier.com A small barn is submerged by flood waters from the Edisto River County staff will conduct outreach in areas like Adams Run which were worse for wear following floods courtesy of Tropical Storm Debby CHARLESTON — Charleston County is starting a new program to help homeowners whose homes were damaged by recent natural disasters the county received $928,000 in grant money from the S.C Housing Trust Fund's Disaster Assistance Program which is designed to address housing recovery needs after extreme weather-related disasters Anyone in living in the county is eligible to apply whose home has been damaged by a storm LoElla Smalls, county director of community development and revitalization, said county staff will go out to areas that have demonstrated the most urgent needs for assistance — Adams Run, Hollywood, Johns Island Paul's Fire District and Edisto Island — and encourage homeowners to apply for the funding County staff confirmed those areas were the most vulnerable after collecting combination of data after Tropical Storm Debby This included looking through calls made to building inspection services Flooding in these areas was so severe following the storm that wells were inundated with floodwater and required bleaching and test kits to make sure the water was clean county deputy director of emergency management The Edisto River flooding surpassed 17 feet only half a foot shy of breaking a record from 1925 also causing homes and cars to be water-filled "There were entire roads that were washed over so it was incredibly difficult for people to get out of their houses," Webster said "We did several water rescues where boats or high-water vehicles went out to get people out of their homes." Webster said some residents are still working on clean up or renovations for their homes Support from the program is an option only for homeowners whose house was damaged specifically by a storm If a house is damaged due to deferred maintenance Smalls said special consideration will be given to heirs' property sites Applicants will then be randomly selected to receive funding Smalls added the most the county can spend on one house is $30,000 whose district includes parts of Johns Island said this program is especially important for residents who may not be able to afford repairs after a storm to help keep their house livable "We are particularly vulnerable on the coast," she said "It's really important to have a program like this in place where our vulnerable residents are able to take advantage of making those quick repairs so that things don't get worse." Honeycutt is optimistic the new program will help residents who applied to other county housing repair programs and haven't received funding Charleston County will accept applications from May 13 to May 27. Residents can email housing@charlestoncounty.org to request an application Oyster shells are a critical component in "living shorelines" across South Carolina (WCIV) — The El Jefe restaurant on King Street in the heart of Charleston closed their doors to their normal customers and opened them for a special event aimed at first responders All firefighters from across Charleston County were welcomed at the event to enjoy complimentary food and drinks as a thank you from El Jefe owner Roy Neal "We just serve tacos but I think this worked out pretty well," he said The restaurant saw a steady stream of firefighters through their doors "We've seen about 50 firefighters so far and it's only been an hour." said Neal And for the firefighters who enjoy a hot free meal the support from the community meant everything "It means a lot to us when the community comes out and supports us fireman." said Capt "Other companies get to come down and see other companies they may not be able to see so any time we can fellowship with the community and with each other it means a lot to us." READ MORE | "Firefighters welcome and greet community at Festival of Roses" holding events like Firefighter Appreciation Day gives the community a rare opportunity "The days of just being a business are over now you have to open your doors and be a part of the community," he said who want to come in and thank their local firemen and first responders." Neal has plans to continue holding Firefighter Appreciation Day as well as Police Appreciation day in the following months by Perrin Moore (WCIV) — The Charleston Battery won their fourth straight game Saturday night coming back from a goal behind to beat Hartford Athletic 4-2 at Patriots Point Hartford got on the board early after a miscue at the back led to a corner kick which was converted by Jordan Scarlett to put them 1-0 up in the 5th minute Charleston ramped up the pressure and was given a lifeline in the 22nd minute when MD Myers was hacked down in the box by Hartford's goalscorer Scarlett Cal Jennings buried the penalty and made it 1-1 the Battery pushed for more and finally had a breakthrough in the 38th when Juan David Torres fired a shot from outside the box to beat Hartford keeper Antony Siaha Charleston went into halftime with 70% possession Charleston came out in the second half looking to continue their offensive push and it paid off in the 56th minute when Torres chipped a ball over the top from the edge of the area to find a clean-through Houssou Landry The Ivorian gathered and calmly slotted in the Battery's third goal from the edge of the six-yard box Hartford still had a chance to make things interesting when a harsh penalty shout on Emilio Ycaza brought Michee Ngalina to the spot with a chance to bring Athletic back within striking distance Ngalina converted and it was 3-2 after 61 minutes Cal Jennings forced a smart save that went out for a corner Torres stepped up and swung his corner kick straight into the net - an Olimpico to seal the win for the hosts New man Rubio Rubin made his home debut and looked lively forcing a fine save from Siaha in the 73rd minute Hartford wouldn't register a shot after the penalty until the 89th minute as Charleston defender Joey Akpunonu put in a solid second half shift against his former club Charleston sits at third in the Eastern Conference on 15 points The Battery travel to Washington to take on MLS side DC United in the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Tuesday Guests enjoy the meal and the guest speakers at the 2011 Book & Author Luncheon The Post and Courier's Book & Author Luncheon will feature Brad Meltzer The Post and Courier’s Book & Author Luncheon The spring event will be held at the Charleston Marriott's Crystal Ballroom author of “The Lightning Rod,” “The Escape Artist” and 11 other bestselling thrillers His children’s book series inspired the PBS show “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.” He’s host of “Brad Meltzer’s Lost History” and “Brad Meltzer’s Decoded” on the History Channel author of “The Forest of Vanishing Stars,” “The Book of Lost Names” and 13 other novels Her book “The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau” has been adapted for film Jim Axelrod is the award-winning chief correspondent and executive editor for CBS News’ “Eye on America” and a reporter for CBS Mornings and CBS News Sunday Morning and Unintentional Lessons in Happiness” recounts his effort to beat his father’s time in the New York City Marathon.” author of “The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit and Felony.” Tometich worked as a line cook and a food writer for The News-Press in Fort Myers named among the best books of 2024 by The Washington Post and NPR Complementary is available for all attendees. Books will be sold at the event. Individual tickets can be purchased online at https://tickets.postandcourier.com/e/2025-spring-book-author-luncheon/tickets Tables can be purchased online or by calling 843-534-0172 if you wish to pay by check Books in Every Bag is a nonprofit sponsor of the Book & Author Luncheon this year. The organization is holding a raffle for a mountain cabin getaway. Go to https://tickets.postandcourier.com/e/books-in-every-bag-raffle-2 to buy a raffle ticket The winner will be announced at the luncheon There was an error generating the full edition PDF A woman is suing the North Charleston city government and police department for an ankle injury stemming from a 2023 late-night police pursuit NORTH CHARLESTON — A woman is suing the local government and police department for an ankle injury stemming from a 2023 late-night police pursuit According to a complaint filed in state court May 1 Isirlyn Wright was walking in the parking lot of the S.C Department of Social Services building at the intersection of Rivers and McMillan avenues the night of June 16 an unidentified North Charleston patrol officer was pursuing someone riding a bicycle The filing says the bicyclist rode up onto the curb and the officer followed in kind driving the patrol vehicle up onto the curb Wright was walking toward the building when she saw the bicycle and car heading toward her The suit says she was "forced to jump onto the curb" to avoid being hit by the police car and suffered severe injuries to her foot and ankle as a result The filing states she will continue to suffer from medical expenses loss wages and diminished enjoyment of life as a result of the incident The suit alleges two separate causes for action against the city and police department it argues the defendants were negligent insofar that the officer involved had violated the department's vehicle pursuit policy According to department policy, police pursuits are heavily monitored by multiple authorities, including dispatchers and police supervisors. Among the responsibilities of both the responding officer and supervisor overseeing a pursuit is to weigh whether the "risk to the public (is) greater than the need for pursuit," according to a policy and procedure manual dated Jan the suit alleges the city and department were negligent in the hiring damages to be determined by a jury and attorneys fees The Post and Courier reached out to Wright's attorney for comment but did not hear back prior to publication Spokespeople for the city and the police department declined to comment on the pending litigation Reach Komlavi Adissem at kadissem@postandcourier.com and find him on Twitter (X) and Bluesky @KAdissem