Charleston Currents

Focus

FOCUS: Management of an epidemic requires surveillance monitoring

By Fred Palm, contributing editor | Our South Carolina emergency plan is an all-event skeleton. Depending upon the particular threat, customization to the plan is made. Even in the overall skeleton plan, any epidemic event is a second thought found in an appendix (14-1) to the general model for action. In these plans, there is no pandemic appendix, so with COVID-19, we presumptively start as if the virus is an infection.

An epidemic requires a swift model that leaps ahead of the presenting of requests for medical services. State-level authorizations and equipment requests passed up the line will not be delivered in time. In fact, little time exists if an infection doubles every five days.

Social science surveys estimate the size of something, the incidence in the population. In this election season, for example, we are bombarded with polling data about what percentage of voters, likely Republicans or Democrats, are expected to behave in a particular way.

by Fred Palm · 03/16/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Common Good, Focus

FOCUS: The State of the RiverDogs is good, very good

By Dave Echols | What we are excited about is when we look into the future and see the opportunities for us to continue to grow with our community. Alongside our partners with the city, we have some exciting facility upgrades to share for 2020, including new group areas, such as the “Dugout” themed group area you see here, and an overhaul of the ballpark’s telecom capabilities.

Chief among the updates is the city’s upgrading of the ballpark light structures and converting those lights to LED bulbs around the ballpark. Not only is this solution a significant improvement in energy efficiency, it also provides us with the opportunity to liven up the game day presentation.

As we look even further into the future, there’s no shortage of ideas we can continue to work on to keep the ballpark one of the best in the country, even 25-plus years after its construction. Projects like the completion of a 360-degree boardwalk-style concourse behind the outfield wall make us all excited about the possibilities of how this ballpark can serve this community.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 03/09/2020 · 2 comments · Focus, Good news

Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, suspended from a crane during her recovery from Charleston Harbor, Aug. 8, 2000. Public domain photo via Naval Historical Center.

FOCUS: Remembering adventurer and author Clive Cussler

By J. Dean Foster, special to Charleston Currents | Dirk Pitt never cried, until today.

Rest in peace Clive Cussler, a true gentleman, a throwback and a real life adventurer followed and enjoyed by millions of readers.

He was my client. I met him in May 1995 when he called late at night from the Mount Pleasant Holiday Inn bar and insisted I come there immediately.

He was with his team of hired divers, just returned from a mile out of Charleston harbor and with startling news: they discovered the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink a warship.

Cussler and crew were celebrating with rounds of drinks: Guinness in a glass mug with a shot of Gosling’s Black Seal rum dropped into the bottom. They called it “Hunley’s depth charge” and pushed one my way.

by Charleston Currents · 03/02/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Political world to descend this week on South Carolina

Staff reports | It will seem like you won’t be able to turn a corner this week in Charleston without bumping into a presidential candidate, a staffer, a reporter or a camera crew.

The political world — with reporters from as far away as Sydney, Australia — will descend upon the Palmetto State in search of the “what’s next” in the horse race of a presidential contest known as the Democratic presidential primary.

The week will start with town halls by CNN, followed by a Tuesday evening Democratic debate aired nationally from the Charleston Gaillard Center to Saturday’s first-in-the-South presidential primary. Republicans elected to not have a primary. But that won’t keep away GOP President Donald Trump, who will have a rally Friday in North Charleston in what some critics see as part political-stalking, part-voter intimidation and part-spurring of members of his party to interfere with the Saturday election.

by Charleston Currents · 02/23/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Tubman book featured in Magnolia’s Children Garden

By Herb Frazier | In honor of Black History Month, Tri-County First Steps has placed in the Children’s Garden at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens the book “Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom,” by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson.

This book is a tribute to Tubman’s strength, humility, and ability to navigate nature and the outdoors. It is the perfect book for children 5- to 8-years old. Scan a QR code on the book’s cover to hear an interactive storytelling session narrative by Dorchester County First Steps Director Crystal Campbell.

Parents can listen to the story using their cellphones to enjoy Campbell’s lyrical story that brings the full radiance of Tubman’s life. Pages of the book have been placed on 16 story boards along a winding path in the garden.

by Special to Charleston Currents · 02/17/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Advice on how to avoid identity theft during tax season

With tax season in full swing, the S.C,Department of Revenue (SCDOR) reminds South Carolinians to be on the lookout for identity theft schemes.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, tax-related identity theft occurs when someone uses a Social Security number (SSN) and other personal data to file a bogus tax return and receive the refund. The IRS warns taxpayers to look for the following signs of identity theft:

+ Receiving a letter from the IRS or the SCDOR asking about a tax return you did not file
+ Learning you cannot file a tax return online because of a duplicate SSN
+ Receiving an IRS notice that an online account has been created in your name or an existing account has been accessed or disabled
+ Receiving an IRS or SCDOR notice about collection efforts for taxes from a year you did not file a return …

by Charleston Currents · 02/10/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

Blackbaud received Charleston Animal Society's Community Ambassador Award at the Society's 146th Annual Meeting. Blackbaud President & CEO Mike Gianoni and his wife Kathie are surrounded by Charleston Animal Society Board Members and staff (L-R) Patricia Henley, Joe Elmore, Laurel Greer, Carolyn Murray, and Hank Greer.

FOCUS: Charleston Animal Society celebrates 146 years

Staff reports | The Charleston Animal Society celebrated 146 years of preventing cruelty to animals on Jan. 26 at Blackbaud World Headquarters. Before hundreds of supporters, the Animal Society gave away two significant awards:

The Community Ambassador Award went to Blackbaud, Inc.
The Elizabeth Bradham Humanitarian Award went to Dr. Shirley McGreal, the founder of the International Primate Protection League (IPPL).
Brabham presents award to McGreal, right.

Blackbaud software is used by thousands of nonprofits around the globe. Blackbaud was honored by Charleston Animal Society for building a better community for all of us and showing compassion for animals through their actions.

by Charleston Currents · 02/03/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Thousands expected at weekend’s Charleston Food Truck Festival

Staff reports | More than 25 food trucks with the best of mobile culinary delights will be at a major food truck round-up 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Navy Yard (1681 McMillan Ave.) in North Charleston. Admission is free.

The festival will offer fun for the whole family with everything from great food and tasty treats to thrilling activities for kids and adults, who will be able to partake in beverages to slake their thirst. Non-alcoholic refreshments will be available for kids.

The annual festival started in 2011 with five food trucks and about 500 guests. Since then, it’s grown to more than 10,000 people over two days. This year in addition to great food and drink, guests will be able to ride a Ferris wheel, bounce on a Bungee trampoline and navigate an obstacle course. Music will be provided Saturday by Weigh Station and Sunday by Gifted Soul.

by Charleston Currents · 01/20/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Charleston, N. Charleston to honor King over next week

Staff reports | Charleston-area residents will have multiple opportunities over the next week to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as the region remembers his sacrifices and leadership in the days leading up to next week’s federal holiday.
The YMCA of Greater Charleston is coordinating most of the events, including these highlights:

MLK Ecumenical Service, 4 p.m. Jan. 19, Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, North Charleston. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will feature a keynote address by Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, presiding prelate of the Tenth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church.

MLK Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Jan 21, Charleston Gaillard Center (tickets). The keynote speaker will be entrepreneur and philanthropist Sheila C. Johnson, founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, co-founder of the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network, producer of the critically acclaimed film “The Butler,” and the first African American woman to achieve a billion-dollar net worth.

by Andy Brack · 01/12/2020 · Comments are Disabled · Focus, Good news

FOCUS: Justify spending $1.1 billion on Interstate 526 widening

By Fred Palm, contributing editor | The S.C. Department of Transportation (SCDOT) proposes to widen Interstate 526 and redo the Interstate 26 intersection. This will be a massive redo of a major travel vector. The cost: at least $1.1 billion. The I-526 Corridor Analysis shows minor shifts in congestion or capacity improvement. The SCDOT website is open to the end of January for our comments.

SCDOT builds highways and wants us to focus on the four alternative highway routes. We are putting down our future regional investments and growth. Highway investment drives other future investments. Businesses use interstate distribution of their goods that grows our economy. Build it and they will come or follow. In a similar vein, railroad spines drove our country’s western development.

Transportation, flooding and economic factors drive the following decisions: Where homes get put; where business expands; and how long the commute follows. These are supporting, opposing, or conflicting factors.

* CLICK into the story to find how too take part in the SCDOT virtual public meeting and share your voice.