Charleston Currents

Good news

FOCUS: Second contest underway to find new Rescue Brew stars

Staff reports | You can now enter Charleston Animal Society’s second annual contest to get an image of your rescue dog and cat printed on labels of 2021 Rescue Brew Beer cans of beer from Palmetto Brewing Company.

Nominations for the spokespet star search are open through Aug. 15. The cost? A donation of $10, which will support programs at the animal welfare organization. After the entries are in, voting will be from Aug. 16 through Sept. 17. The grand prize spokesdog and spokescat will be announced Oct. 16.

“We are absolutely thrilled to celebrate the unconditional love that pets bring to our lives and partner with Palmetto Brewing Company, Southern Eagle Distributing, WCSC Live 5 News, Charleston City Paper and Cupcake DownSouth to find the second spokesdog and spokescat for the 2021 Rescue Brew Beer,” said Joe Elmore, president and CEO of Charleston Animal Society.

by Charleston Currents · 07/19/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

NEWS BRIEFS: Cunningham says S.C. should legalize marijuana

Staff reports | Former U.S. Rep. and current Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham of Charleston last week pushed for recreational and medicinal legalization of marijuana at the state level.

“It’s time for elected officials to admit that what we are doing has not been working although there are career politicians who would rather live in the past,” the 39-year-old Cunningham said in a veiled reference to GOP Gov. Henry McMaster, 74.

by Charleston Currents · 07/19/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FOCUS: Ways to ensure a summer full of safe, fun swimming

Staff reports | A day of enjoying the sun and swimming may seem relaxing, we have to beware and prepare for the inherent risks of the water.

Charleston County Parks highlights safety is a top priority as 10 people drown unintentionally every day. To ensure a safe summer during the swimming season, the park system has lifeguards at its beach swimming areas and waterparks. Lifeguards undergo extensive education and training on drowning prevention and recognition. The county parks organization employs more than 275 lifeguards per season to ensure guest safety.

While lifeguards are the final link in the chain to prevent drownings, swimmers can do their part to ensure their own safety. Officials recommend following five easy safe swimming tips:

by Charleston Currents · 07/12/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

NEWS BRIEFS: Blood donations needed across the Lowcountry

Staff reports | More than 60 blood donation sites will be open over the next two weeks to help the American Red Cross meet what it calls a “severe blood shortage.”

“Right now, the Red Cross needs to collect more than 1,000 additional blood donations (nationally) each day to meet current demand as hospitals respond to an unusually high number of traumas and emergency room visits, organ transplants and elective surgeries,” the agency said in a news release.

by Charleston Currents · 07/12/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FOCUS: Survey seeks input for priorities leaders should pursue

By Skyler Baldwin | One Region, a partnership of regional government and business groups, has released a survey aimed at further understanding the needs of the residents and businesses in Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester counties, along with input on what opportunities leaders should pursue.

“One Region is going straight to the source to hear from the Berkeley-Charleston Dorchester community, so we can build on the lessons learned from COVID-19 and anticipate potential threats to our region’s economy,” said One Region chair Kendra Stewart. She is also director of the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities at the College of Charleston.

by Charleston Currents · 07/05/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news, News

BRIEFS: Changes expected for state public charter school law

BIG CHECK. Representatives from Jersey Mike’s Subs in the Charleston area presented a $250,000 check to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital on June 23 for money raised during the company’s 11th annual Day of Giving in March. Photo provided.

PLUS: Changes expected to state public school charter law

by Charleston Currents · 07/05/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

Exploring Caw Caw park. Photo provided by CCPRC.

FOCUS: Counting on Nature promotes better understanding

Staff reports | Look around and you might find something new, just as local resident Tess Moody did three years ago.

In June 2018, Moody, a part-time staff member at the Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission (CCPRC), found a new species of millipede at Caw Caw Interpretive Center, according to the agency. She took a photo of the arthropod and posted it to an online forum for entomologists for identification.

She then was contacted by Jackson Means of Virginia Tech, who believed it could be an unidentified species. They were unable to find the millipede specimen at Caw Caw again until June of 2020. This second discovery allowed the two to confirm that the millipede was indeed previously undescribed in scientific literature.

by Charleston Currents · 06/28/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

NEWS BRIEFS: Charleston Forum to kick off 2021 series on June 22

Staff reports | The Charleston Forum will hold the first discussion of its 2021 event series on June 22, a virtual panel addressing challenges and possible improvements in public education.

According to this story in the Charleston City Paper, results from the group’s new annual survey shows overwhelming support exists for dramatic reforms to improve quality of life in Charleston’s tri-county area, according to results from a survey published by The Charleston Forum. But intense disparities between local Black and white residents show diverging outlooks on the prospect for improved race relations in the community.

by Charleston Currents · 06/21/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs

FOCUS: Rain inundates Charleston, closing 17 streets Sunday

Staff reports | More than five inches of the rain that drenched the Charleston peninsula Saturday caused traffic snarls Sunday as floodwaters had no place to go — even after the rain stopped.

As of 12:15 p.m. Sunday, 17 roads were closed due to flooding throughout the city, according to Charleston police. Thigh-high waters were reported in the Hospital District, and several cars were stalled throughout the peninsula. By early afternoon, streets started reopening, including the Septima Clark Parkway, also known as the “Crosstown.”

Charleston officials said street-sweeping and grounds crews worked Sunday to clean up waste that accumulated after the storm. Stormwater crews also cleared debris from storm drains and will work Monday to identify remaining blockages.

by Charleston Currents · 06/14/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news, News

Harris, right, will be in Greenville today.

NEWS BRIEFS: Harris to be in S.C. Monday for vaccination tour kickoff

Staff reports | Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Greenville Monday to kick off a national “Month of Action” tour to get more Americans vaccinated against COVID-19. She is expected to deliver remarks at 12:15 p.m. at an event at the Phillis Wheatley Community center.

by Charleston Currents · 06/14/2021 · Comments are Disabled · Good news, News briefs