MONCKS CORNER — Genise Furtick stood next to the home she would soon own, reflecting on how it almost didn’t happen.

The Moncks Corner woman had long dreamed of purchasing a house, but the plan seemed out of reach when, in 2017, she applied for Habitat Humanity’s homeownership program but was denied because she didn’t meet the income requirements.

Furtick, a widowed mother of three, picked up an additional job that provided her the flexibility to work on weekends so she could care for her children after school hours. She balanced the two jobs for more than a year and then, in 2019, she was making enough money to be approved by the Habitat homeownership program.

“Now, I can provide my children with a forever home,” Furtick said during a ceremony held Nov. 22 to celebrate her milestone.

While the new space is the result of Furtick’s long-awaited dream, the dwelling is also special for other reasons. The home, built at the intersection of Hutchinson Lane and Wall Street, is the first house built by Habitat for Humanity Berkeley County that uses insulated concrete forms.

The home is the product of a new partnership between Berkeley County Habitat and National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s Build with Strength Coalition. The home’s framing is made with a sustainable, noncombustible concrete building system that reduces upfront construction expenses while maximizing the structure’s durability and energy performance.

Elected officials, nonprofit and community leaders celebrated the construction of the new home on Nov. 22, where Knight’s Redi-Mix poured concrete into the space between walls that will serve as the new home structure for the Furtick family.

“We’re looking forward to building many more of these in Berkeley County,” said George Druyos, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Berkeley County.

The concrete wall system is energy-efficient because it eliminates air infiltration and prevents external heat transmission. Furtick can expect to see 50 percent savings on utility costs. She should also see less-expensive housing insurance, since the home is noncombustible.

The house also is designed with safety in mind, its concrete walls built to withstand wind speeds up to 150 mph.

The new housing partnership began to take shape during the pandemic, when Habitat was impacted by the lumber shortage, Druyos said. The nonprofit began to inquire about the kinds of materials that could be used in place of lumber.

Habitat has plans to build up to seven more houses nearby along Hutchinson Lane. The nonprofit has already built 22 houses in the neighborhood.

Berkeley Habitat has invested more than $3 million into the Wall Street neighborhood, including a new community center, bus stops and a community garden.

Housing affordability is a key concern in Berkeley County, where the median home price in the county is $375,000, said County Supervisor Johnny Cribb. The county’s partnership with Habitat is one of the municipality’s efforts aimed at addressing affordable housing, Cribb said.

Berkeley County partnered with the nonprofit on the effort in providing $200,000 from the county’s Community Development Block Grant Program toward the project, funding that will be used to add water and sewer along Hutchinson Lane, along with paving the roadway. Habitat does well with recruiting volunteers to build the homes, along with acquiring the necessary funding to build the homes, Cribb said.

But raising money to do necessary infrastructure work is much more challenging, Druyos said.

“The cost of what you need to do under the ground is very expensive,” Cribb said. “We were glad to contribute in a small way to this project. We’re excited for the family who’s going to move in here, and all the way down Hutchinson Lane. This is an amazing community.”

The project is part of a wider initiative between Build with Strength and Habitat for Humanity International to construct more than 50 sustainable concrete homes in 50 states in five years. Since the initiative launched in February 2021, 47 homes have been constructed in 27 states.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Monday, December 19, 2022) – Deputy Director Gerald “Jerry” Baxley has been named the next Director of the Berkeley County Veterans’ Affairs Office. He was unanimously appointed by County Council on Monday, December 12, 2022. He will assume his role on January 1, 2023.

Baxley’s appointment is the result of current Director Jan Helton’s retirement. Helton served 16 years as VA Director. She started working for Berkeley County in the Clerk of Courts Office in 2001 and transitioned to the VA Office as an Administrative Assistant in 2002. In 2006, she became VA Director.

“My time here at Berkeley County has been filled with the sweetest memories and will forever hold a large portion of my heart. My staff has become like family, along with the veterans we serve. I will greatly miss everyone, but I know the office will be in exceptional hands under Gerald’s direction. He personally knows many of the veterans who come to us and like all who work here, cares deeply for their well-being.” -Jan Helton, Outgoing Director, Berkeley County Veterans’ Affairs

Gerald Baxley served in the United States Air Force for 24 years. He began working at Berkeley County after retiring from military service in 2005. Baxley was hired as the Administrative Clerk to the Director of the Berkeley County Veterans’ Affairs Office and later became the Benefits Counselor. He was appointed Deputy Director in 2015. Baxley holds accreditations from The American Legion, S.C. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the National Association of County Veterans Affairs Officers, the Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

“I am honored to take this leadership role and fill the big shoes Jan is leaving behind. Helping our veterans is a passion of mine and the passion of our caring team here at Berkeley County Veterans’ Affairs. As a veteran myself, I understand first-hand the needs of our nation’s greatest heroes, and as VA Director will strive each day to continue directing our office to connect each veteran with the proper resources available to them.” -Gerald Baxley, Incoming Director, Berkeley County Veterans’ Affairs

“Berkeley County is home to thousands of veterans that deserve the very best services we can offer. We are proud that we have one of the best VA offices in the state that has been under the capable leadership of Jan Helton and her team for the last sixteen years. Deputy Director Gerald Baxley has been unanimously appointed by County Council to fill the role as Director with Jan’s retirement. I have every confidence that our VA office will maintain its efficient service and compassionate assistance under Director Baxley’s leadership and team.” -Johnny Cribb, Berkeley County Supervisor

For more information about Berkeley County Veterans’ Affairs, call 843-719-4023 or go HERE.

-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Wednesday, December 28, 2022) – Berkeley County has been approved for two separate federal loan assistance programs to help cover the cost of damages sustained by Hurricane Ian this past fall.

Farm Service Agency Emergency Loan Assistance: Berkeley County is one of three counties in South Carolina that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has declared as a primary natural disaster area due to damage and losses caused by Hurricane Ian between September 30 and October 1, 2022.

As a result of this declaration, eligible family farmers in the state may qualify for Farm Service Agency emergency loan assistance, which is available to any applicant, with a qualifying loss in Berkeley County, through July 31, 2023. For more information and/or to apply, call 803-806-3820.

Economic Injury Disaster Loan Assistance: Berkeley County also received a Presidential disaster declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration, allowing businesses to apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans.

For more information about Economic Injury Disaster Loans and eligibility and/or to apply, go HERE. You may also contact the following: A. Escobar, Office of Disaster Assistance, U.S. Small Business Administration, 409 3rd Street SW., Suite 6050, Washington, DC 20416, (202) 205-6734.

The deadline to apply is August 21, 2023. You may also submit completed loan applications to the following: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155

PLEASE NOTE: Assistance is not available for housing and/or individual residents.

-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-

aid assistance cost damage disaster Economic Injury Disaster Loan eligible emergency Farm Service Agency farmer federal hurricane ian loan loss program small business storm

UPDATE: After our report on Wednesday, DHEC reached out to News 2 letting us know they have approved the water permit, so the store can begin the process of opening. DETAILS HERE.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCBD) – People living in Moncks Corner have been long awaiting the opening of a new Publix shopping center. While the grocery store appears to be ready to open, many are now wondering “what is the holdup?”

“If you live in the area, you are excited about the store coming in. What we’re not excited about is how long it’s taking for it to open,” said Robert Esclavon, who stops by the center occasionally to see its progress.

The 75,000 square-foot Publix at the new Moncks Corner Marketplace was announced about two years ago. Today, things basically look finished – there are grocery carts inside, fixtures in place, and shelves waiting to be stocked. But still, the store sits unopened.

Based on a January 2021 press release, the shopping center was slated for completion in June 2022, with Publix expected to open in fall 2022.

“The few people I run into say it looks like it could be mid-September before it opens. I don’t know if they know what they’re talking about, but for a store that’s complete – except for product on the shelves – it makes you wonder what’s holding it up,” said Esclavon.

Esclavon reached out to News 2 to find out what is going on. Leaders with the Town of Moncks Corner said they are waiting on final approval from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

“Right now, we are just waiting on DHEC to approve the water supply system over there. All the engineering has been done- the water is clear, it’s just a matter of getting everything signed off on the state DHEC office and they’ll be able to start moving in people and supplies,” explained Douglas Polen, Moncks Corner Community Development Director.

One person, who was familiar with the construction project, said they had to wait a few weeks for Berkeley Water and Sanitation to get their water meters installed. That process is now complete, and they have been waiting on DHEC for the past week and a half.

Officials with DHEC tell News 2 they are going to see what they can do to expedite the rest of the approval process so the store can finally open for business.

Esclavon said that is why he called us for help.

“Just having you guys, like you guys research it a little bit and maybe you push them along to have this project move up … they’re ready to go, I think,” he said.

Moncks Corner officials said once DHEC gives its final approval, Publix could open in as little as three to four weeks.

In what promises to be a family-friendly day of history, reenactments and games, Old Santee Canal Park, the Berkeley County Museum and Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust are welcoming visitors of all ages to their Colonial Day and Fort Fair Lawn grand opening, which kicks off at 10 a.m. on Sept. 24 at 900 Stony Landing Road in Moncks Corner.

The occasion marks the grand opening of Fort Fair Lawn, situated a mile away from Old Santee Canal Park.

Fort Fair Lawn is one of only two earthen military strongholds left in the United States, recounts Berkeley County Museum Director Chelsy Proper, with the other being Star Fort at the Ninety Six Historic Site, about 60 miles south of Greenville.

The Sept. 24 event will allow spectators to see Fort Fair Lawn in its current state, along with taking in reenactments provided by performers dressed in colonial attire. Some of the on-site actors will be armed with muskets and they may even fire off a canon or two.

As for the historical significance of the site, Proper explains that Fort Fair Lawn was actually built in the late 1770s by the British as a holding area to store their military armaments.

“They had it here because it’s close to the Cooper River and they were able to get their supplies up here. Moncks Corner was strategic during the revolution because it was kind of the gateway to Charleston,

“They really wanted to capture Charleston — which they did. The fort was held by the British until (late) 1781, when the patriots came in and attacked [it] and took it over.”

From that point, American troops never utilized Fort Fair Lawn, as the structure was left to be surrounded in overgrown vegetation while it progressively sank deeper into the ground.

And though it was practically abandoned by American forces, centuries later, historian Douglas Bostick of the South Carolina Preservation Battleground Trust describes the site in glowing terms by stating: “Fort Fair Lawn is probably the most pristine, intact original American Revolutionary War fortification in South Carolina, if not the country.”

Over the next 240 years after its abandonment, many locals would go drink beers at the fort or even ride their go carts around the old fortress.

So, while much of the action and reenactment activities are taking place at the fort site on Sept. 24, those who seek a deeper understanding of what transpired in Moncks Corner and the surrounding Charleston area during the American Revolutionary War period can drop in on a lecture at Old Santee Canal Park. The historical learning sessions are scheduled to run from 10 a.m. through 3 p.m.

The subjects covered during these discussions will include a snapshot of residents who remained loyal to the British regime, as well as South Carolina’s connection to Barbados, as many Charlestonians of the time originally came from the island country in the West Indies. In fact, many plantations in South Carolina very closely resemble similar estates that were prevalent in Barbados.

In addition, the first annual Colonial Day will feature games for children in the form of scavenger hunts. Other event activities include indigo dyeing, candle making, native birds/plant talk, the fabrication of sweetgrass baskets and an information session on colonial medicine.

And those who wish to tour the Berkeley Historic Museum can enjoy an up-close and personal view of artifacts found inside Fort Fair Lawn in the form of buttons, soldier belt and shoe buckles and more.

Proper considers Colonial Day and the grand opening of Fort Fair Lawn as an exciting learning opportunity for many newcomers to the Lowcountry.

“There are so many people moving to the area that a lot of them don’t know this history. So, there has been a renewed interest just in the [American] Revolutionary War in general. I’m not sure where that renewed interest comes from, I’m just glad it’s here,” says the researcher/interpreter who hails from the Bluegrass State of Kentucky.

Additional information on the Sept. 24 affair can be found on Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center Facebook page.