The Georgetown County A monthly e-newsletter produced Chronicle by Georgetown County, S.C., for its residents and visitors. Inside this Issue Volume 4, Issue 5 January 2016 Firefighters receive Meri- torious Action Award, Page 2 SafeRack announces expansion, will create 100 jobs Library’s First Thursday Program returns, Page 3 Registration under way for adult softball, soccer and football, Pages 3 & 5 Winter safety tips, Page 5 Senior centers crown kings and queens, Page 6 County monitoring Santee River flooding, Page 8 afeRack, LLC, located in the Georgetown County sion. SafeRack plans to add more than 100,000 square Calendar S Business Center in Andrews, is expanding its feet to its facility at 219 Safety Ave. With SafeRack’s Jan. 7 – Tea and Poetry Series existing operations. The expansion will include a $20 customer base growing, expansion is necessary to begins. See page 7 million investment in Georgetown County and crea- meet demand, said Rob Honeycutt, SafeRack CEO. tion of 100 new jobs over the next five years, in addi- “Many companies opt for customer service and Jan. 9 – Manners Club for tion to temporary construction jobs. manufacturing facilities overseas,” Honeycutt said. Children begins at the The announcement was made this week, following SafeRack has always been committed to maintaining Waccamaw Library. an agreement with Georgetown County that provided its base in Andrews. Having all customer service rep- See page 8 incentives to the company to assist with the expan- See “SafeRack,” Page 7 Jan. 11 – Meeting to discuss upcoming spring quilt show Popular country music artists to perform on Front St. at the Georgetown County Two chart-topping country music Museum, see page 10 artists will perform in downtown Jan. 12 – Georgetown County Georgetown in April. The concerts Council meeting, 5:30 p.m. in are sponsored by the Georgetown the historic courthouse Business Association and were scheduled to coincide with the Win- Jan. 18 – All county offices yah Bay Heritage Festival and other and facilities are closed in festivities surrounding a Bassmaster observance of Martin Luther Elite Series tournament the county King Day will play host to. Josh Thompson is set to perform Jan. 21 – Georgetown County on April 7, while Jason Michael Car- Planning Commission roll will perform the following night. meeting, 5:30 p.m. in the Jason Michael Carroll Josh Thompson historic courthouse Both concerts will take place on Front Street, in front of Francis Mari- vice will be available to event spon- Can Sleep When I’m Dead,” Carroll Jan. 26 – Georgetown County on Park. Opening acts start at 6 p.m., sors, and silver- and above-level developed a following with his 2006 Council meeting, 5:30 p.m. in with featured artists taking the stage sponsors will be invited to an artist debut album “Waitin’ in the Coun- the historic courthouse at 7:30 p.m. meet and greet party. try,” which hit No. 1 on the country General admission for both shows Known for hits including “Alyssa music charts. He has toured with Visit www.facebook.com/ is free. A VIP area with waitress ser- Lies,” “Livin’ Our Love Song,” and “I See “Concerts,” Page 9 gtcountysc for more events Volume 4, Issue 5 Page 2 Firefighters awarded for meritorious action during Oct. flood Charity Chili Cookoff Four firefighters with Midway Fire Rescue were The Moose Lodge of Georgetown presented with awards for meritorious action and will have a charity chili cookoff on extraordinary acts of bravery last month. The Sunday, Jan. 10. awards were for their actions during a swift water Anyone interested in entering rescue they participated in during a major flood- the cookoff is asked to call Linda at ing event in October. (843) 995-0968. There is no fee to Award recipients were Daniel Weihert and Ad- enter. All-you-can-eat tickets are am Maag, both of whom were hired in 2012, and $5 per person and tastings begin at Luke Vogler and James Costanza, who joined the 3p.m. The public is welcome. department in April 2015. These men were mem- Ticketholders will vote on their bers of the team dispatched during Hurricane favorite chili and trophies will be Joaquin to the area of Pennyroyal and Saints De- handed out in the following cate- light roads, where a vehicle was reported swept gories: Best named chili, hottest off the roadway by floodwaters into a large chili, best overall chili, and best swamp area on Oct. 4. The driver was still inside tasting chili. the vehicle at the time responders were dis- Proceeds from the event will be patched. donated to a local charity, organiz- Crews on the scene came up with a plan and At top, award winners are pictured with County ers said. A recipient had not been went into action, launching a watercraft with Administrator Sel Hemingway, far left. Above is an announced by the end of Decem- aerial shot of the rescue in October. Firefighters rescue swimmers into the fast-moving water. are seen traveling by boat over flooded roadways. ber. After a search of the outlying area, the crews The Lodge is located at 2018 quickly located the driver clinging to a tree and Without the rescue team’s rapid response and South Island Rd., Georgetown. suffering from hypothermia. The boat crew assessment during this situation, the victim would For more information, directions affected a rapid removal and rescue of the victim, have been lost to the rapidly moving flood wa- or notification of future programs treating him and returning him to the launch ters, said James Payne, Midway division chief of at the Lodge, contact Linda, (843) point for transportation to the emergency room. training and special operations. 995-0968. Get the Chronicle At Georgetown County, we want our residents and property owners kept abreast of what’s going on inside their local government. That’s why we created the Georgetown County Chronicle. It’s a vehicle for information about county services and events, important messages from county officials and behind-the-scenes glimpses at how government works. You can find the Chronicle on our website at Showings begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Waccamaw Library www.gtcounty.org or through our Facebook page. If you’d rather have it delivered to your January 15: “Gigi” inbox, e-mail [email protected] with the This fabulous romantic comedy won nine Oscars. Weary of the conventions of Parisian society, a rich playboy and a youthful courtesan-in-training enjoy a platonic subject line “send me the Chronicle.” friendship, but it may not stay platonic for long. That’s also the place to send questions and January 22: “The Maltese Falcon” comments about this newsletter and its Humphrey Bogart and Mary Astor shine in this acclaimed 1941 film noir. A private detective takes on a case that involves him with three eccentric criminals, a content. We welcome your feedback and gorgeous liar and their quest for a priceless statue. suggestions. January 29: “Singin’ in the Rain” This 1952 musical comedy film starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds offers a lighthearted depiction of Hollywood in the late 1920s, with the stars portraying www.gtcounty.orgwww.gtcounty.org performers caught up in the transition from silent films to “talkies.” Volume 4, Issue 5 Page 3 Volume 4, Issue 5 Page 3 InletCurbside oyster roast flood fundraiser debris removalPiotrowski underway to kick off in Waccamaw affected library’s areas to support Chandler/Peterkin room ‘First Thursday’ program schedule for 2016 at new Waccamaw library branch The Friends of the Waccamaw Library’s “First The Friends of the Thursday” series will return this year, but with Waccamaw Library will one major change. The series, which brings an sponsor an oyster roast at exciting speaker to share experiences, infor- the Sunnyside home of mation and talents during a free program on Bill and Anne Chandler on the first Thursday of every month at the library, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016. is leaving behind its evening time slot. The event will take place First Thursday programs throughout 2016 from 3-5 p.m. and will will take place from 10 a.m. to noon. A late morning time slot has worked well throughout raise funds to name one Piotrowski of the meeting rooms at the years for the Georgetown Library’s similar the new Waccamaw Li- Scholars Program and organizers hope it will be brary in honor of the similarly successful at the Waccamaw Library. Chandler and Peterkin The series will kick off for 2016 on Jan. 7 with families, who have The late Genevieve “Sister” Ed Piotrowksi, chief meteorologist at WPDE, Chandler Peterkin was a Mur- played an important role who will share stories from his 25-year career, rells Inlet resident, author as well as some of his extensive knowledge of in the cultural, literary, and the Georgetown County civil rights and environ- Library’s very first librarian. his field. mental heritage of the She died in 2011. The series continues in February with “Sierra Waccamaw Neck, organizers said. Leone: A Mother’s Journey,” featuring Tanya Ackerman. Ackerman, an award-winning pho- The literary legacy of the Chandler/Peterkin family Ackerman began with Julia Peterkin, who won the 1929 Pulitzer tographer, will share photographs and candid Prize for her groundbreaking work "Scarlet Sister Mary." personal experiences from a recent trip to West Africa to visit her daughter. Peterkin was one of a very few white authors who spe- cialized in the African-American experience, and her Adult Co-ed and Men’s Softball Leagues! subject matter and use of Gullah dialect was highly con- A program of Georgetown County Parks and Recreation troversial at the time.