Criminal Defense Lawyer in St. Matthews, SC

The United States has a 250th birthday coming up, and South Carolina is positioning itself to play a vital role in the celebration.

On July 4, 2026, the U.S. will celebrate 250 years of independence from Great Britain.

Bill Davies, who’s part of the S.C. Revolutionary War Sestercentennial Commission, spoke to a small group of Calhoun County residents on Monday night about how each county can help spark interest in residents and tourists alike.

“Honest to goodness, what we’re trying to do is hook every one of you to being part of this because we think it’s really important,” Davies said.

The S.C. American Revolutionary War Sestercentennial Commission – or SC250 for short – along with the Liberty Trail are working to promote two goals ahead of the nation’s upcoming milestone.

“The first goal is education. Education should always be first,” Davies said.

“The education we need to focus on is winning back the heritage that South Carolina had before 1860 for having a pivotal role in winning independence from Great Britain,” he added.

“If you read all the books before 1860, it’s recognized that the South is where the war was won. After that, the South got written out of the war. This is something we need to educate people on and reeducate us – all of us, not just some – school children and everybody about our role in that war,” Davies said.

“We also need to educate the visitors because the visitors are coming,” he said.

The second goal “is technically called cultural heritage tourism. What that really means is local economic development. We want to get literally hundreds of thousands of people who are going up and down our interstates, who tour our state every day. We want to get them off the highway – somewhere other than Myrtle Beach and Charleston – we want to get them to rural South Carolina. And when we get them off the highway, we want them to stop and buy gas. We want them to buy T-shirts, belts, hats and maybe a pocketknife or something. And we want them to eat lunch in our restaurants and we want them to spend the night here,” Davies said.

At least 400 Revolutionary War incidents took place in South Carolina, Davies said.

He noted there were two battles each in Charleston and Camden, “and everything else was out in the country.”

“When people go to Revolutionary War sites, they will be in rural South Carolina,” he said.

Davies said tourists and residents are heading to rural areas to visit Revolutionary War sites.

In 2020, Star Fort, a national park in the Ninety-Six district of South Carolina, saw 95,107 visitors. Davies said the visitors invested an estimated $5.7 million in the state.

Cowpens National Battlefield, just outside of Chesnee, saw 227,000 visitors during 2020, bringing an estimated $14.9 million in revenue to the state.

As the state gets ready for the nation’s 225th birthday, each county needs to form a committee to tell of its Revolutionary War sites, contributions and other significant impacts, he said.

“Once your county council recognizes you as the official Calhoun County committee, we have a $3,000 grant that’s not competitive or anything else,” Davies said. “We’ve got grants that will help you locate sites in your county. Grants that will help research history and find the place and provide the archaeology, that will help you set up the pull-offs and will help you with signage.”

Davies said the SC250 Commission is focused on telling factual stories of the Revolutionary War to not only focus not only on the people who fought in battles, but capture the diversity of people who contributed to the efforts.

St. Matthews Mayor Helen Carson noted, “I’m happy to see this. It would be a wonderful thing for our children and grandchildren to know South Carolina played such a vital role.”

“We’ve got to bring others to the table, to the drawing board, because that’s what’s going to make the horse run down the road,” she said.

To learn more about South Carolina’s efforts to celebrate the nation’s upcoming 250th birthday, visit: www.southcarolina250.com

The Liberty Trail is a free, interactive phone application that allows users to plan tours of Revolutionary War sites across South Carolina.

A St. Matthews woman pleaded guilty to identity fraud to obtain employment or avoid detection by law enforcement.

Amanda Fogle Johnson, 48, of 213 Carlisle Avenue, entered her plea before Circuit Judge Maite Murphy during a recent term of court held at the Orangeburg County Courthouse.

Murphy sentenced her to five years in prison, suspended to two years of probation.

In other recent guilty pleas:

• Terrence Maurice Felder, 49, of 1072 Sulton Court, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to second-offense driving under the influence less than .10.

Murphy sentenced him to pay a $100 fine within six months or report to jail for 30 days.

• Jamichael Dashawn Franklin, 24, of 624 Bleakley Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to first-offense driving under suspension license not suspended for DUI and first-offense failure to stop for blue lights.

Murphy sentenced him under the Youthful Offender Act not to exceed three years, suspended to one year of probation.

She also ordered him to undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

Prosecutors dismissed Franklin’s charge of first-offense uninsured motor vehicle fee violation.

• Dycippa Lamart Garner, 42, of 741 Old Elloree Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to second-degree domestic violence.

Murphy sentenced him to prison for three years, suspended to two years of probation after he served two days in jail.

She gave Garner credit for having already served the two days in jail.

She also ordered him to undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

• Charles Antrell Demaine Govan, 23, of 960 Rivers Street, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to public disorderly conduct.

Murphy sentenced him to one day in jail and gave him credit for time served.

Prosecutors dismissed his charge of resisting arrest.

• Taveon Jerell Haywood, 24, of 158 Petunia Street, Cordova, pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and battery.

Murphy sentenced him under the Youthful Offender Act not to exceed three years, suspended to 18 months of probation.

She also ordered Haywood to complete anger management.

• Shannon Ray Heath, 46, of 2385 Camp Rawls Road, Wagener, pleaded guilty to second-degree non-violent burglary.

Murphy sentenced him to five years in prison, suspended to two years of probation once he served 290 days in jail.

She gave him credit for having served 290 days in jail.

She also ordered Heath to pay restitution and undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

• Manaysia Hoheb, 22, of 751 Bonner Avenue, Santee, pleaded guilty to breach of trust with fraudulent intent valued more than $2,000 but less than $10,000.

Murphy sentenced her under the Youthful Offender Act not to exceed three years, suspended to one year of probation.

She also ordered Hoheb to pay restitution, enroll with the S.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Department or Job Corps and undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

• Eitan Ben Israel, 70, of 126 Mack Hill Street, St. Matthews, pleaded guilty to pointing and presenting a firearm at a person.

Murphy sentenced him to prison for one year, suspended to probation for nine months.

An additional charge of pointing and presenting a firearm was dismissed.

Murphy also ordered Johnson to complete substance abuse counseling and undergo random drug/alcohol testing.

• Cleveland Jermaine Johnson, 27, of 77 Timber Lane, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree domestic violence.

Murphy sentenced him to three years in prison, suspended to 18 months of probation.

She ordered Johnson to obtain his GED. She gave him credit having already served 329 days in jail.

Prosecutors dismissed the following charges: two counts of third-degree domestic violence and one count each of resisting arrest and malicious injury to real property valued at $2,000 or less.

• Marvin Johnson, 47, of 124 Omega Court, Santee, pleaded guilty to first-offense DUI and second-offense DUI less than .10.

Murphy sentenced him to pay a $150 fine within six months or report to jail for 30 days.

Prosecutors dismissed two counts of threatening the life of a public official and one count of having an open container of alcohol.

• Malik Kentrell Harrison, 25, of 299 Tyler Road, Orangeburg, pleaded guilty to third-degree domestic violence.

Circuit Judge Heath P. Taylor sentenced him to 70 days in jail and gave him credit for time served.

St. Matthew Baptist Church, 749 Longtown Road in Lugoff, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. Established in 1873 by former salves, members at that time gathered under a brush arbor for worship. Later that same year, Gordon and Grady Bell of Lugoff granted the members 2 acres of land for a church to be built.

Services were held each Sunday with additional prayer services held during the week. The building was later destroyed by fire, and in March 1939, services continued in the Parker School building.

On May 21, 1956, members purchased land on S.C. 5 (Longtown Road) to build a new church. In 1958, the members moved into the new sanctuary. Old time hymns, accompanied by the clapping of hands and stomping of feet, along with shouts of praise echoed throughout each service.

Baptisms were held outdoors before an indoor baptismal pool was built. Members would fellowship with each other after services knowing that it would be a week or more before they could see or talk to each other again.

Electronic communication was not available. This building now serves as the church’s family life center.

Throughout its 150-year history, St Matthew has been under the leadership of several pastors, each providing spiritual guidance to the congregation, leadership and improvements to the physical structure of the church. Each pastor worked hard to achieve the goals established during his tenure. In the fall of 2006, construction began on the current sanctuary. It was dedicated in April 2007 during a morning service.

The congregation’s goals for the future of St. Matthew are to continue to provide services through the offering of programs of benefit to the members as well as the surrounding community.

These include educational programs and workshops that focus on health awareness, tutorial services, and parenting classes.

Providing recreational activities for senior citizens and youth, the development of an outreach ministry, seeing an increase in membership, offering a scholarship program for students to continue their education beyond high school, continuing its monthly foot giveaway, and increasing the involvement of youth in the functions of the church all remain a priority at St. Matthew.

The sesquicentennial culminated with a banquet held at the Bethlehem Family Life Center in Lugoff. Michael Cummings, Eugene Walker, and Russell Perkins provided music. State Sen. Penry Gustafson, along with former Kershaw County Council member Bobby Gary, presented the church with proclamations recognizing St. Matthew for its long history and contributions to the community. That Sunday’s church service concluded with dinner in the fellowship hall.

St. Matthew Baptist Church was built on God’s guidance, faith, the hard work of the congregation’s forefathers, and its dedicated church members. Its mission is to save souls by glorifying God, spreading His Holy Word, supporting fellow believers, and to be a guiding lot for the community.

“As we enter a new era in the history of St. Matthew, we trust that God will enable us to live out the true meaning of our mission statement,” congregants said.

“Thanks be to God! He has heard your prayers! He has answered your prayers!” With these words, the Rev. Janet Echols, Rector of St. Matthew’s, Fort Motte, announced on October 31, 2022, that her congregation will be allowed to buy back their church property. In April, the SC Supreme Court ruled that St. Matthew’s along with seven other parishes no longer belonged to the local congregations and that their deeds were to be handed over to the Episcopal Church.

On October 29, Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley and the Episcopal Standing committee of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, to sell the church property back to the Anglican congregation.

Echols called the opportunity miraculous. “I say miraculously because it really was an act of God that turned the tide for us. There were forces at work against us. Your prayers were effective! No other church in our Diocese has been given this opportunity to ‘redeem’ their property. Thanks be to God for answered prayers!”

In addition to thanking her congregation for praying the effort through, Echols thanked attorney Francis Mack, “who persevered through this 10-year journey and did an amazing job as our legal counsel,” as well as Mary Taber and Steve Pittman, (Senior and Junior Wardens, respectively) and their vestry “who have shown great leadership in this season.”

Echols also publicly thanked Bishop Woodliff-Stanley, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina for “her courage, wisdom and grace,” and, in response to requests from her parishioners, provided them with the Episcopal Bishop’s address so they may write notes of appreciation. “In spite of letters and calls from people encouraging her not to sell to us, she made the call,” said Echols.

Bishop Chip Edgar, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina called it a “eucatastrophe.” “This was a classic Tolkienesque ‘eucatastrophe,’” he said, “where six months ago we thought all was lost when the properties had been lost, but St. Matthew’s has had the opportunity to purchase back their building at a price they can achieve. It also opens the door for them to fundraise both for this as well as other needs of their church and mission opportunities going forward. It’s my hope and prayer and even expectation that this starts yet another new day for St. Matthew’s as they look to a future where they can really live into the ministry to which God has called them.”

The church has 90 days to raise the agreed upon price for the property. In her message to the congregation Echols said, “The first thing we need to do is PRAY. Just as I asked you to pray for the meeting – three times a day for five minutes. I am going to ask you that at every meal when you thank God for your “daily bread,” His provision, you also pray for provision for our church. Thank Him for what He has already done, for what He is doing, and for what He will do to provide for us. People around the Anglican Diocese of SC and the world are joining us in prayer.”

The Jerusalem Fund sent an “encouragement gift” of $10,000 to St Matthew’s Parish this week. As a Diocese, we continue to stand together as we labor to build up the Body of Christ in this place.

To donate to the effort, give to the Jerusalem Fund, noting that your gift is for St. Matthew’s, Fort Motte.

The playground will be located at the corner of Butler Street and Richland Avenue. The land was formerly used for tennis courts that became dilapidated.

ST MATTHEWS, S.C. — Construction of a new playground is underway in the Town of St. Matthews. The project is being spearheaded by the Calhoun County Parks and Recreation Department.

“I think it’s gonna be a great addition for us," said local parent Joseph Fairey.

There will be slides, monkey bars, and swing sets for children to enjoy, and picnic tables for families. According to the Calhoun County Department of Parks and Recreation, this project has been a few years in the making.

The playground will be located at the corner of Butler Street and Richland Avenue. The land was formerly used for tennis courts that became dilapidated over the years.

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“You have a lot of people in this area, in St. Matthews that are looking for things to do with their kids. On a nice day like this, this would be a perfect day to bring your kids out, use the playground, get rid of all of that energy that these kids have after a long day of school," said parks and recreation director Zachary Tarrant.

Joseph Fairey is a local parent in St. Matthews. His daughters are active in Calhoun County sports programs.

"I remember growing up this was a tennis court and I had a lot of good memories out there," he said, "Over the years it had just kind of become not used and not functional for the community.”

He moved back to St. Matthews last year after living in Columbia for a while.

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“This is a great family, friendly community but not having a playground is obviously something we needed. Just excited for my kids. I’ve got a one, a four, and a seven year old so obviously we’ll be using it a lot and lots of families that are out here will take advantage of it and it’ll bring the community together," said Fairey.

The park is being funded by a grant from the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, in addition to money from the Calhoun County penny sales tax. It's expected to open at the end of May.