Best Jewelry Store in Goose Creek, SC

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCBD) – The Goose Creek Chapter of the NAACP is expressing concerns about a new state law that could impact the Berkeley County School Board.

Bill S910 says the Berkeley County School Board should have nine members, of which eight should be elected from single-member districts where they reside, while one member should be elected from the county at large.

Board members previously expressed their concern over the new law. Now, the Goose Creek NAACP said they are planning to hold a public meeting to address the same concerns.

“Bill S910 has been passed through the Senate and House with minimum community input, and we’re concerned that the community that it will affect doesn’t know the ramifications of the bill,” said Sharina Haynes, president, of the Goose Creek NAACP.

One of their main concerns is how the law, which was signed by Governor Henry McMaster this year, changes the makeup of the board.

“Eliminating a minority seat in addition to that will also include adding an at-large member. So we want the community to come out and let them know about what is happening with this bill, the ramifications of it, how we got here, and who got this passed.”

Haynes said the elimination of a minority seat also means two minority members of the board will have to run against each other in November. They are also concerned about how the law cuts in half the four-year term in which several board members were elected in 2020 since the new law required all members to run for re-election this year.

“We have members of the school board who were elected in November 2020 and with this new bill they will have their terms decreased from four years to two years,” said Haynes.

The school board is in the process of filing a lawsuit over the new law, and the Goose Creek NAACP says they believe that step may be needed since the law is already in effect.

That is why they plan to hold a public meeting in a week and a half. “And let everyone know that there are some ramifications that will affect your children with the passing of this S910 bill.”

That meeting will take place on Saturday, July 9.

The curtains are being pulled back on the high school football season for Berkeley County School District programs.

When the sun comes up on July 29, South Carolina High School League programs will be able to push open locker room doors and head out to the practice field for the first time officially. Temperatures are always high, as are expectations. Everybody is still 0-0 and optimistic about what could be.

The final Berkeley County program playing last fall figures to be productive in the success department this season, too. The Philip Simmons Iron Horses return a talented group from a squad that won 11 games and reached the third round of the Class AA playoffs in 2021. They return multiple all-state players.

“We have a lot of kids back who played meaningful snaps,” Philip Simmons coach Eric Bendig said. “We have to make sure they know seasons like last year just don’t happen. You don’t just get a trophy for showing up. Since we’ve been here we’ve been cultivating a culture in the program that you have to earn what you want. If we want to continue our success, we’ve got to put in the work.”

Bendig’s bunch captured its first region title last fall and is in a tough new region along with Hanahan and Beaufort. The Iron Horses move up to Class AAA.

Their all-state players coming back are sophomore defensive lineman Devontay McNeil, junior defensive lineman Bryce Smalls and senior kicker/punter Griffin Gore. Smalls and McNeil amassed 179 total tackles combined and recovered five fumbles apiece. On special teams, Gore was successful on 51 extra points and seven field goals with 38 touchbacks and a 39.6 per-punt average.

The Hanahan Hawks handed Philip Simmons its only setback in the regular season last year and return their own gifted group for veteran coach Art Craig, who has more than 230 wins in 20-plus seasons.

Hanahan averaged more than 34 points per game in 2021 en route to an 8-3 finish and appearance in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. Junior running back Kevon Rivera is a bruiser and sophomore quarterback Jaden Cummings throws a good ball.

“The biggest thing is with our older guys learning how to take ownership of the team,” Craig said. “When they see things and correct them, and do it by example, that’s how you take the next step. A lot of these guys are going into their third year in the program. There is an expectation level there. They’re starting to understand it a little bit. We want to take it up to another level.”

At Goose Creek High School, the Gators are working on a three-year Region 7-AAAAA winning streak. They’re aiming to make it four straight this fall after going unbeaten against region foes and advancing to the second round of the Class AAAAA playoffs last year.

Gators quarterback Drew Moore, a senior, will be one of two third-year starting quarterbacks in the county. Timberland’s Kylen Brown, a junior, is the other.

Moore, a Mercer commit, passed for more than 2,500 yards and 27 touchdowns as a junior and 1,717 yards and 18 touchdowns as a sophomore.

In the backfield, the Gators graduated two-time region player of the year Demetri Simmons.

“The last couple years, teams geared up to stop Demetri,” Gators coach Jason Winstead said. “It opened up a lot of things for Drew. Now, the goal is going to be to stop Drew. He’s going to have to be patient and take what teams give us. He’ll have to let the plays come to him until we learn to run the football better.”

Across the City of Goose Creek, the Stratford Knights are aiming to build on a 2021 campaign that saw them win a playoff game for the first time in seven years.

Coach Dennie McDaniel’s bunch figures to challenge Goose Creek’s supremacy in the region.

Knights quarterback Jalen Barry returns along with four all-region players.

One thing is for certain. Stratford will be battle-tested when region play rolls around. A look at the non-region slate reveals a brutal stretch over the first several weeks of the season.

“We’ve always played the same people over and over again,” McDaniel said. “I just wanted to branch out and get some teams from Columbia and the Pee Dee area that we haven’t seen before. It’s definitely some stiff competition. I’ve had some people ask me what I’m doing setting up a tough schedule like that.

“We want to be an elite team, not just in the Lowcountry but in the state. To get to that level, you have to play good people. It’s a tall task but we’re using that as a battle cry going into the season.”

Cane Bay is in the conversation to challenge Goose Creek for the region crown, too. The Cobras bring back three all-region players, including leading rusher TJ Wright and offensive lineman Kameron Durant, an East Carolina commit.

Like the Gators and Knights, Cane Bay finished up 2021 in the second round of the Class AAAAA playoffs. On the ground, the run-heavy Cobras figure to be as efficient an offense as there is in the Lowcountry.

“I feel like this group has potential,” Cane Bay coach Russell Zehr said. “We’ve got some good guys back on the offensive line. That’s always the biggest thing with us. I think we have enough speed to take advantage of that. Doesn’t matter how fast you are if you can’t block.”

Teams can scrimmage for the first time Aug. 4. Locally, the Moncks Corner Lions Club jamboree is set for Aug. 12 at Berkeley High School.

Every BCSD team kicks off the regular season in Week 0 on Aug. 19.

Week 0 games include Berkeley at Timberland, Goose Creek vs. South Florence, Stratford vs. Avon, Ohio in Orlando, Cane Bay at Beaufort, Hanahan vs. Georgetown, Philip Simmons at Andrews and Cross at Calhoun County.

In SCISA, St. John’s Christian hosts Kings Academy and Northwood Academy heads to Greenwood Christian.

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCSC) - Cayce Giddens has lived in Goose Creek for fifteen years. She said she and her family were getting stressed about the rising prices of groceries, inflation, and food shortage issues. So, they started talking about getting chickens to help ease that stress.

“We talked about having chickens, and when we looked into what the city says about it, we found out they’re not allowed at all in Goose Creek, and that was shocking to find out,” Giddens said.

Giddens started talking to some of her neighbors and decided to start an online petition to try to get the City of Goose Creek to allow residents to have chickens. As of Monday morning, the petition had almost 300 signatures.

“We’re stressed out about food and providing for our families, and that chickens was an easy way to at least have those eggs in the background for their calorie content and their protein and just wanting to have that as an extra staple to supplement our groceries,” Giddens said.

She said the concerns she’s been hearing on the other side of the issue are about cleanliness.

“I think an ordinance is the best of both worlds,” Giddens said. “It gives people who want to own chickens that security of having that food, but it also gives people who don’t want to own chickens or worried about it a recourse to handle that if somebody’s not taking care of their property.”

According to the proposed ordinance, people cannot have hens without first obtaining an approved application and an annual compliance inspection and fee payment. Under the ordinance, roosters would not be allowed. One chicken per 2,500 square feet would be allowed, with a maximum of 4 chickens maximum regardless of lot size. Hens would not be allowed to be raised for commercial purposes.

The proposed ordinance says animal control or code enforcement officers may enter and inspect properties containing coops to investigate potential violations or compliance with the ordinance.

City of Goose Creek Public Information Officer Frank Johnson sent Live 5 News this statement regarding the proposed ordinance:

“At its June 14 meeting, Goose Creek City Council will consider an ordinance that would allow City residents who live in single-family homes to keep up to 4 chickens, depending on property size. The meeting will include discussion about the issue and a first reading vote. A City ordinance would not change or supersede existing HOA guidelines for residences governed by an HOA. Council members were approached by residents who are in favor of such an ordinance earlier this year.”

Council will discuss the proposed changes at Tuesday night’s council meeting at 6 p.m.

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GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCSC) - The city of Goose Creek and the South Carolina Department of Transportation are working together to put up a stoplight at St. James Avenue at Myers Road where residents have reported multiple accidents.

There are a few neighborhoods off of that road, and people in the area were excited to hear about the project. The actual project likely won’t be completed until the end of 2023, but the plans are in motion.

Thomas Garter lives nearby and says the sooner a light is put up the better.

“It’s hectic in the morning and the late afternoon coming from work. I have seen several accidents,” Garter said.

SCDOT officials said a traffic analysis found the volume in that area is too high, so a signal has been approved and is in the design phase.

Construction will likely begin in October and could take up to 15 months.

Caleb and Allen are friends who like to play basketball at a nearby church after school, and they say they have seen accidents happen at the intersection, and people often cut through the church parking lot to avoid the line of cars.

“There’s traffic, and every time we play they cut through [the parking lot] instead of waiting. I’ve seen a lot of accidents,” Caleb said.

“The bus will be super late to school due to the accidents,” Allen said.

The department of transportation will build a mast arm style light which will cost between $250,000 and $350,000. SCDOT and Goose Creek have agreed to share the cost with the department of transportation building the standard steel poles for the traffic signals.

The city is interested in having mast arms extend over the intersection to which the signals would be mounted. Goose Creek has agreed to pay for the mast arms.

“I’ve been waiting to see our light here since I was 6, because I’ve lived here for a while with the traffic and accidents. I just hope they get better,” said Caleb.

The project is on Tuesday night’s Goose Creek City Council meeting agenda with the administration department expected to speak on the issue.

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GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Goose Creek will be breaking ground on a new 13-acre park next month, and officials say it will have something for everyone.

The new park is called Central Creek Park, and it will cost $9 million to build. The city will soon be breaking ground on a piece of land off Old Moncks Corner Road, near St. James Avenue, to build Central Creek Park.

Recreation Director Crystal Reed said the park will cater to everyone.

“The focus of this park is it’s going to be inclusive,” Reed said. “We’re on a wellness mission, and inclusivity is our top priority.”

The park will be funded by just over $4 million in coronavirus relief money, $1.5 million from the city’s general fund and just under $3.5 million from hospitality taxes.

Reed said with that money, the park will be loaded with features.

“We’ll have a sand volleyball court, basketball court,” she said. “It will have a greenspace with a stage with a food truck area, so that people can have social gatherings.”

Other features in the park include pickleball courts, a pavilion that will host events and an all-inclusive playground for kids of all ages and abilities.

Sean June lives in Goose Creek and came out to play basketball with his friends next to where Central Creek Park will be. He said he can’t wait for it to be built.

“I was actually kind of shocked because I was talking to my friends,” he said. “I thought they were going to put apartments over there, but it will be a nice addition to the community.”

June also said he plans on using the basketball courts and the food truck area once the park eventually opens.

“Every weekend, there’s always a bunch of people behind playing basketball,” he said. “I’m pretty sure it’s a big staple in our community to have parks.”

Reed said the city’s focus on building parks, such as the recently opened John McCants Veterans Park, is to make sure people can get together outdoors.

“It’s really just a focus on creating community,” Reed said. “That’s why we’re doing it. We want people to have activities and places to go in their city where they don’t have to leave the city limits of Goose Creek.”

Officials said the groundbreaking is scheduled for March 31. That’s when they will reveal how this park will take shape.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.