The American Red Cross is helping a Cottageville family with temporary shelter and food after a house fire destroyed their home on Saturday, March 13th.

Firefighter-paramedics with Colleton County Fire-Rescue were called to the Amber Court house in Cottageville at about 8:55 a.m. They found an adult man climbing out of a small window of the mobile home when they arrived: the man was not harmed.

According to Barry McRoy, chief of Colleton County Fire-Rescue, the house was already about 65 percent engulfed, or filled with flames, when fire crews arrived on scene.

“Firefighters deployed multiple hand lines to the structure and stopped the spread of the flames, but the interior of the mobile home was gutted,” he said. “The family lost most of their belongings.”

McRoy said local fire crews had the fire under control within 15 minutes, but crews stayed on scene for about two hours “performing overhaul.”

According to McRoy, the fire appears to have started in a utility shed located next to the house. The flames then spread to the mobile home, he said. The utility shed, which was about 12x12 in size, was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived on scene.

No one was injured in the blaze.

The American Red Cross was called to help the family.

A second house fire that also occurred in Cottageville last week left a Cottageville family with house damage and with personal losses. (See more information on that story in this issue).

So far this year, CCFR has already responded to 18 structure fires.

In 2020, CCFR responded to 73 structure fires.

According to McRoy, the number of fires in 2020 was down from the year prior: in 2019, Colleton County Fire-Rescue responded to 28 fires.

For this year’s house fires, McRoy said firefighter-paramedics have seen the fires being related to people smoking. He also said yard debris fires this year have gotten out of control and sent flames to nearby houses and structures.

“We are seeing an increase in the woods fires,” he added. “Most of the fires are from people burning outdoors, such as yard debris fires, someone burning off their yard and even people burning household garbage, which is not permitted.

“This is the time of year, people tend to burn yard debris from cleaning up their property or conduct large outdoor burns related to land management,” he said. “Many people leave the fires unattended and they spread to neighboring property or buildings. Some of those structure fires are related to unattended outdoor burning which spread to outside utility buildings.”

Damage reports from a tornado spotted west of Summerville early Monday morning still coming in, but it appears no fatalities have been reported.

A tornado warding has since expired, but according to The National Weather Service in Charleston at 7 a.m. a confirmed large and extremely dangerous tornado was located just west of Cottageville, moving east at 50 mph.

Emergency dispatchers reported many downed trees and some power outages west of Summerville in the Jedburg area. Fire alarms also have been reported, but no fire damage has yet been reported.

This is a developing story.

The play “Curtains” closed their 46th season on June 4, but Flowertown Players already have their 47th season of shows laid out.

Their board is excited to have new Managing Director Kendall Kiker on staff. He had spent most of his career as an educator, teaching at schools in South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi and Texas. Kendall most recently directed productions of “She Kills Monsters” and “The Spitfire Grill, The Musical” at Coker University in Hartsville. He can be seen in films such as “American Made” with Tom Cruise and “The Founder” with Michael Keaton. Kiker is an at-large board member and chair of the Playwriting Committee for the South Carolina Theatre Association.

In addition to Kiker, the Flowertown Players has added Jason Olson as its Artistic Director/Tech Director. I profiled Olson back in February about “behind-the-scenes” theatre work (rb.gy/pxb7t). Jason also is a writer as his adaptation of “The Three Musketeers” was produced there in 2014. Olson’s work has frequently been showcased at the South of Broadway Theatre’s annual Playfest and through 5th Wall Productions which he co-founded and where he currently also serves as executive director and literary manager.

Regan: Kendall, your background?

Kiker: I grew up in Darlington. I got a BA in Theatre Arts from Francis Marion University, an MFA in Acting from the University of Southern Mississippi, and will begin work on a MA in Arts Administration at Winthrop University in August. In high school, I got roped into auditioning for “The King & I.” I got cast and was absolutely hooked — was a little hesitant and a bit nervous. I’ve been teaching, directing and acting ever since!

R: Jason, you’re the new artistic director, but you’re still the tech director, too?

Olson: Yes, I’ve recently taken over the full-time artistic responsibilities and will continue with the technical aspects as well.

R: Thoughts on the last season? How does the theatre choose the plays?

O: This season had some challenges, but we came through it. It was a profitable season. We got a lot of people to return after COVID-19, (the theatregoers and the actors), so we consider that a success, which is very encouraging.

For Season 47, the works were chosen by a play-reading committee of board members, volunteers and theatre professionals. Future seasons will be chosen from the play-reading committee, director submissions and what audiences want to see. The main stage, which has the main five plays, will typically be established, fan-favorite types. We also have productions in the studio which is the rear building where we will do newer, perhaps more edgier plays. We are going to introduce monthly staged readings of new work. We will also use that space for what should be a pretty robust set of educational programs starting in August.

R: Your youth educational program?

O: We have an education committee of board members, instructors, educators and parents. Kendall and I are also on it. We will oversee creating a new curriculum, including educational opportunities for folks young and old. We are doing a kid’s summer camp and “101 Dalmatians” is the kid’s version for their play and that will be performed from July 21-23. The camp registration’s deadline is June 30. Parents can go on our website to sign their kids up. There are a few education members on this committee, and we will look at going to area schools to do theatrical outreach perhaps in the next year or so.

R: Kendall, have you held this type of position before?

K: I’ve had similar roles wrapped into teaching positions before. I want to see that we can continue to develop talent for the Summerville area and continue to create quality theatre that this community is going to want to see and talk about and, hopefully, participate in.

R: Input from theatregoers?

O: People are excited about the new season. There is a little something for everyone. We’ve already seen a growth in our season memberships. The committee and the board did a good job at selecting our plays this past year. The same type of effort will go into future seasons. We will do another artistic survey once this next year’s season gets going to hear from the community about the type of plays they want to see.

R: What are you most proud of about Flowertown Players?

O: I think what makes us stand out from a lot of the other theaters is that the backbone of this theater is the volunteers. They make or break this theater. We’ve seen such an increase in both the support and acting sides that we are really going to be even more successful based on just the recent influx of volunteer interest. It all comes back to COVID having slowed everything down. We are in a rebuilding phase now, so we’re on the upswing!

K: Jason’s been here, on and off, for 11 years and I’ve just wrapped up my third week here! We both have our own unique perspectives. For me, I’m really excited by how positive everyone is and how forward-moving everything is as everyone has a great vision of where we are going. We are all working together to move in that direction, so I am excited about being a part of that type of supportive environment.

For more information, visit www.FlowertownPlayers.org. Click the “Get Involved” tab to sign up to audition, volunteer or support the group. They accept donations online and plan to form more corporate sponsorships. To learn more about that, contact Managing Director Kendall Kiker at MD@FlowertownPlayers.org.

Flowertown Players kicks off its next season Aug 11 with “Ruthless, The Musical!”

Columnist Mary E. Regan is a freelance publicist with her ProPublicist.com consultancy. Seeking new publicity clients and writing projects. Story ideas? Email: Mary@ProPublicist.com.

COTTAGEVILLE, S.C. (WCBD) – A problem with a septic tank may force a small business in Colleton County to close its doors for good.

David Stanfield and his wife opened Red Brick Pizza in Cottageville a few years ago. But they may have to close their business after South Carolina’s lead health agency, the Department of Health and Environmental Control, said their septic system is not fit for the job.

“Almost two years ago we started, and almost immediately DHEC jumped on my back,” said Stanfield. “In March of last year, we started takeout only, but in March I contacted them about opening a 12-person dining room. They said yes, you can open it.”

A month later, Stanfield said he was told that could not have a dining room.

“I asked them about the tables out front – I had four picnic tables out front – they said you can have all the picnic tables you want, so we built a patio which has a bunch of outside tables. And then five months later, during another inspection, and we’ve gone through eight in one year, during another inspection they said you can’t have these outside tables. I said, well, you told us we could.”

DHEC told Stanfield that his septic tank was too small, and he was given a ‘shut door’ order.

“Two months ago, I went before the council- I begged them, I said my septic system has never overflowed, it’s never had a problem, and they said you have 60 days to put this monstrosity in back here.”

His customers were outside protesting on Tuesday while raising money to help keep them in business.

Stanfield began installing the large septic system. He says he has now spent $51,000 on the project. But his business only makes about $800-$1,000 on a good week. So, he believes he will now have to just shut down.

Stanfield eventually put a water meter on his property after a suggestion from a neighbor to see how much water was being used each day.

“Our water meter shows that we use 350 gallons per night, my existing system will do 450 gallons and they’ve got me putting in the system it will do 1,500 gallons per night which is just crazy. They’ve bankrupted me. They’ve taken every dime that we have, and we don’t even have money to open for food this week.”

DHEC sent News 2 a statement saying Stanfield was not in compliance with his DHEC permit when he moved from take-out only to restaurant seating.

“Mr. Stanfield did not dispute the grounds for suspension but requested the suspension be rescinded because he was diligently working on gaining compliance with DHEC regulations,” the statement said. “Failure to install the upgraded system would not lead to closure of the facility but would result in the return to the original food service operation as approved and permitted by DHEC.”

“I don’t understand this because, you know, America is known for if you put everything into – whatever your dream is – you can get it accomplished and they are burying us alive,” said Heike Stanfield, Co-Owner, Red Brick Pizza.

Stanfield said they were last open on Saturday. But unless a miracle happens, he believes they may not be able to re-open again.

The matter was discussed during a DHEC board meeting on May 5, 2022 with the restaurant’s owner in attendance – a motion was made about two hours and thirty-three minutes into the meeting, following an executive session. You can watch that hearing by clicking here.

Deputies make arrests after body found in Cottageville woods where hunter went missing

COLLETON COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - Investigators have made a number of arrests after a body was found in the woods in Cottageville in the same area where a hunter went missing.

The Colleton County Sheriff’s Office says 25-year-old Schuyler Rene Andrulat of Cottageville and 33-year-old Nathan Baughman of Summerville have been charged with obstruction of justice. According to court records, the charges against Andrulat were dismissed and expunged.

A third man, Brad Skipper, has also been charged with an outstanding warrant from Colleton County.

The body was found around 8 p.m. on Thursday in a wooded area off Red Oak Road, the same area where a hunter went missing last Friday

The sheriff's office says the missing hunter was staying with friends who waited until Sunday to report him missing.

The coroner is doing an autopsy to determine the cause of death and identify the body.

The arrests stems from an incident that began on Aug. 21 when a Colleton County deputy responded to a home on Peirce Road in reference to a missing person.

The deputy spoke to Andrulat who said a friend of hers, Orin Patrick, had come to her home to go hunting Friday evening.

According to a report, Andrulat said she dropped Patrick off along the woodline on Peirce Road with a shotgun.

"Andrulat stated that several hours later, she received a call from Patrick stating that he was lost in the woods and he wanted her to drive along the road and beep the horn so that he could find his way back to the road again," the report states.

Andrulat told investigators that she did this around 9 p.m. on Friday but could not find him.

According to authorities, Andrulat said she received another call from Patrick that only last a few seconds and had since been unable to reach him through his phone again. Andrulat told deputies that she did not know any more information about Patrick.

In the incident report, the responding deputy reported that when he first met with Andrulat, she was unable to give any information about Patrick. The deputy then told Andrulat to get in contact with some of Patrick's friends or family so that he could get enough information to do a report.

Authorities also spoke with Patrick's friend, Baughman, who told investigators over the phone that he and Patrick had been staying at a home on Lakeview Drive in Summerville.

Baughman said the last time he saw Patrick was on Aug. 19, but was unsure of the time "because they had both been drinking so he did not remember much about that day."

The incident report states Baughman told investigators that this was not the first time Patrick had just "gone away, but it has never been for this long and never without making contact with him."

Detectives reported that they had Patrick's cell phone pinged to find the last location for it which was in Summerville.

Copyright 2016 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Written by: Anna S. Bright

Submitted by: Herman G. Bright, Parade Chairman

Photo: Submitted

For 35 years, the Walterboro Shrine Club of Arabian Temple #139 has sponsored the town’s parade, honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As a nation, we honor this slain civil rights leader whose mission was to advocate for all people who had been oppressed by unjust laws and immoral abuses. King vowed, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Serving this year as parade marshal is a former Colleton County Councilman and retired pastor, Rev. Evon Arrington Robinson, Sr. When given the invitation to serve as this year’s marshal, Rev. Robinson expressed many words of gratitude and was most elated to accept this honor. Due to COVID restrictions, the parade was not held in 2021, and it was not held in 2022 because of inclement weather.

Rev. Robinson, a retired pastor of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, is a native of Cottageville, South Carolina. He is the son of the late Mr. Easley Robinson, Sr., and Mrs. Bula Mae Haynes Robinson. After graduating from Colleton Training School, he attended SC Trade School and later completed a tour of duty in the United States Army. In 1970 he received the call to ministry. He attended South Carolina State University, subsequently attending the Nichols Theological Seminary Extension in Charleston, South Carolina for religious training.

Having served in the pastoral ministry of Jesus Christ for 47 years, all of which were in the South Carolina Annual Conference, among his assignments were the Fairfax, St. Paul, Holly Hill, St. Matthew, and St. Stephens Circuits. Rev. Robinson led the Greater St. Paul and Greater Target congregations in the construction of brand-new edifices. In addition, he led the congregations at St. Peters, New Hope, St. Matthew, and St. Stephens in total renovation projects.

Rev. Robinson served the SC Conference in the following capacities: the Board of Examiners, the Ministerial Efficiency Committee, Presiding Elders’ Salary Committee, the Conference Finance Committee, Chairman of the Finance Committee for the Beaufort District, Station and Circuit Committee, Deeds and Abstracts Committee, and Abandoned Property Committee. Further, he was one of the initial organizers of the Sons of Allen Ministry and served on this committee for many years.

His ministry outside the walls of the church includes being elected to the Colleton County Board of Education. During Rev. Robinson’s tenure while serving as the board chairman, he led the historic event of hiring the first African American superintendent in the county. He was later elected and served on the Colleton County Council for 16 years, three of which he was a chairman. He served for 15 years on the Board of Directors of the Lowcountry Regional Council of Government, and he also served as treasurer for the South Carolina Coalition of Black County Officials. In addition, he served on the Lowcountry Community Action Agency Community Action Agency Board of Directors for several years, four of which he was chairman.

Previously, he was chairman of the Equal Opportunity Committee for the Department of the United States Navy, Naval Weapons Station, Charleston for 12 years, and as the president of the American Federation of Government Employees Union-Local 2298, for two years. Lastly, he is a member of the Colleton Branch of the NAACP and the Hiram Mann Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., of which four years he was the president.

For 57 years Rev. Robinson and his wife, Gloria Smalls Robinson, have been united as one. They are the proud parents of four children: Evon, Jr., Ronald, Rhonda Lynn, and Keon. They have been blessed with nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. After 28 years of service, Rev. Robinson retired from the Naval Weapons Station in Charleston in 1995. In addition, he owned and operated Robinson’s Barbershop in Walterboro for many years.

After having served more than four decades as a pastor in the A.M.E. Church, in November 2018, Rev. Robinson retired from active ministry, a calling of which he loved so dearly. He plans to travel extensively throughout the nation to share his experiences as a servant of God in the wider ecumenical circles, as well as his beloved A.M.E. Church.

The Walterboro Shrine Club’s Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade will take place on Sunday, January 15, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. on Jefferies Boulevard. At 1:30 p.m., the lineup will begin in front of Live Oak Cemetery. The public is cordially invited and encouraged to attend.