Personal Injury Attorneyin Allendale, SC.

ALLENDALE, S.C. (WJBF) – Farming has been a way of life for many in Allendale. But with Hurricane Idalia expected to have major impacts in the area, farmers aren’t taking any chances.

Experts from Clemson’s extension office in Allendale County say one of the things farmers need to do to prepare is to protect their livestock.

Along with having access to fresh water and food, they say farmers have a couple more important things to take care of.

“You need to make sure they get to higher ground,” said Area Livestock and Forges Agent Hillary Pope. “We don’t know if you live in a flooded state/area. So they need to be able to get to higher ground. Have some way to ID your livestock, you can get some livestock safe spray paint and spray paint your number on the side.”

But some farmers also say protecting their crops needs to be a priority as well.

Baynard Connelly has been farming his whole life, and he says the rain would be great for his corn, but the potential heavy wind damage would not.

“I’m worried about the wind more so than the rain,” said Connelly. “We’re in a drought situation down here now, so we need the water, but not the wind to go with it.”

According to Connelly, at his farm they have 3,000 acres of corn, and him along with 11 other people in his family have been working day and night to cut the corn.

After working for the past couple days, they are down to the last 500 acres.

“Well we’re harvesting corn right now. We’ve been almost running around the clock–cutting at night when we could. So they cut last night, and they’re cutting right now,” said Connelly.

But even with farmers doing the best they can to prepare, Pope says there’s no way to predict how bad the damage could be.

“We won’t necessarily know the impact until after the storm. It can go many different ways,” said Pope.

The VIPIR 6 Alert Team at NewsChannel 6 expects the storm to hit Allendale starting in the morning, but the worst of Idalia will come tomorrow afternoon.

ALLENDALE, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Thursday was a big day for some Allendale students who are now eligible for some major scholarships.

The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund will provide more than 20 scholars at Allendale-Fairfax High School $10,000 scholarships for each year of college.

It was such a big announcement that state Superintendent Ellen Weaver came to town to congratulate the recipients of the life-changing scholarships.

“I really hope that it will encourage our students to focus and to work hard, because I know they have it in them to do this work and to be the very best and the very brightest. We know we have wonderful students in our rural communities who need options and opportunities just like this,” she said.

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Also there were Meeting Street Scholarship Fund Executive Director Josh Bell and Allendale County Schools Superintendent Dr. Vallerie Cave.

This is a big achievement for the Allendale County School District, which was put under state control in 2017 due to concerns about the quality of education and opportunities available to kids there.

Seniors at Allendale-Fairfax High School will be able to apply in January and are looking forward to what a debt-free college experience will look like.

It’s students like Kaden Wesley, who’s a future service member and a future student at Clemson University.

“Nowadays, people are in their 30s and 40s still paying student loans. And I didn’t want to be one of those people that’s always in debt. So that’s why I was kind of glad that this scholarship is being offered,” he said.

With this extra resource, a college degree is more accessible.

Senior Lokeya Robinson said: “An option was to attend the military and then go to college right after that. So they would pay for that. But hearing about the scholarship, I’m more of just going to college first.”

To qualify for the Scholarship, a student must:

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Unlike other scholarships, there’s no essay requirement and all qualified applicants receive scholarships, meaning there’s no limit to the number of students who can receive it.

Bell said: “The problem is, so many families still owe $8,000, $10,000, $12,000 after all of the scholarships and grants and aid that they’re given. So the Meeting Street scholarship helps close that gap up to $10,000 per year.”

The Meeting Street Scholarship Fund offers high-achieving, under-resourced students living in certain counties up to $40,000 over four years for in-state tuition, fees, housing or food.

It’s available to students who live in certain South Carolina counties who plan to attend Anderson University, Bob Jones University, Claflin University, Clemson University, College of Charleston, Columbia College, Columbia International University, Converse University, Furman University, Newberry College, North Greenville University, Presbyterian College, Southern Wesleyan University, The Citadel, University of South Carolina – Columbia, Wofford College or Winthrop University.

Since the founding of the scholarship in 2020, they’ve awarded more than $20 million in scholarships to to students in 11 different counties in South Carolina.

They hope to roll it out to all 46 counties in the state.

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ALLENDALE COUNTY, S.C. (WJBF) — Allendale County got a chance to meet the new district superintendent, Dr. Valarie Coath Cave.

“The community has embraced me, and I’m ready to get to work, to bring everything to Allendale we possibly could and to expand the opportunities for children to be successful,” Dr. Vallerie Coath Cave said.

In the first few weeks, she’s been very busy. She’s met with district-level staff one-on-one, visited schools to interact with children and teachers, and met with community partners. “I have been to some football games and just really enjoying being a part of the community again.

During a community meeting on Tuesday, Dr. Cave discussed plans to expand partnerships and create an advisory board. “So that I can rectify anything that they feel might be an inhibitor to their child being successful,” she added.

The new superintendent also wants to work on student attendance and parents coming to community meetings. “So we have a truant officer this year that’s going to work with us to make sure that we are monitoring it more closely so that our students who are missing several days can come to school,” Dr. Cave shared.

Questions were asked about the selection process for the new superintendent. We’ve learned state leaders conducted a public search, receiving 20 applicants from across the state. They held first-round interviews with a diverse group of stakeholders at the Department of Ed and eventually selected Dr. Cave as the successful candidate after a rigorous process.

“We got to know her better and listened to her heart and passion for the work; we knew that it aligned with what we needed in Allendale,” Deputy Superintendent of Education Matthew Ferguson said. “Someone focused on students and who believed in the capacity of all of our students and saw opportunities where many others would just see challenges.”

Making her first trip to Allendale, Weaver shared her Hope Network initiative.

“The HOPE Network stands for helping our pupils excel, and it’s really about focusing on the fundamentals, ensuring that every student in Allendale can read on grade level, ensuring that they are able to do math on grade level, and most importantly, ensuring that when they leave Allendale Fairfax High School, that they are ready to go into the workforce fully prepared for a great career,” she added.

New school report cards are expected in October, with hopes of observing progress in Allendale and statewide in South Carolina. State leaders plan to base future decisions on this data.

“That’s my commitment to the community here in Allendale, is that we’re going to work together as partners to ensure that students in Allendale are succeeding to their greatest potential,” State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver said.

Meanwhile, the district plans to address the difficulty in attracting teachers moving forward. The challenges are its rural nature, lack of affordable housing, and the long commute. “We need to create some more community events so that there are things for people to be able to do around here so that we can attract and retain those teachers as well,” Dr. Cave added.

A foreign company announced plans last week that they say will bring more than 1,000 new jobs to one of the most economically distressed counties in South Carolina.

Tin Thanh Group Americas, a Vietnamese tire manufacturer, plans to establish its first operations in the United States in Allendale County, one of the poorest, rural counties in the state consistently ranked statewide in the bottom of educational levels, poverty levels, health, and other quality of life factors. According to a release from the S.C. governor's office, the company’s $68 million investment will create 1,031 new jobs.

“This announcement once again shows the world has taken notice of the many benefits of doing business in South Carolina," said Gov. Henry McMaster. "This major $68 million investment and 1,031 new jobs will be transformative for Allendale. We proudly welcome our first Vietnamese Company, Tin Thanh Group Americas, to the state and look forward to creating a long-standing partnership.”

Tin Thanh Group Americas’ South Carolina location will allow the company to manufacture and retread large commercial vehicle tires, as well as operate its commercial tire leasing program, the company said in the release.

“Tin Thanh Group Americas is excited to make South Carolina home for its first location outside Vietnam and is proud to be South Carolina’s first Vietnamese company," said Tin Thanh Group Americas Chief Executive Officer Tran Dinh Quyen. "With the assistance of the Department of Commerce, the SouthernCarolina Alliance and the officials at Allendale County, and the assistance of readySC, the decision was clear compared with the other locations that sought our project in the Southeast. Tin Thanh Group Americas looks forward to a long-lasting, fruitful and cooperative relationship with all of South Carolina.”

The company plans to build its new facility on Walker Road in Fairfax. Operations are expected to be online by September 2024.

“Allendale County welcomes Tin Thanh Group Americas to our community, and we thank them for their investment in our future and our people," said Tin Thanh Group Americas Chief Executive Officer Tran Dinh Quyen. "Each of the more than one thousand jobs will make a difference in the lives of a family in the region because good jobs and good economic development change lives. We look forward to working with this fine company, which is committed to sustainability and good values, bringing prosperity and progress to our area.”

“SouthernCarolina Alliance welcomes Mr. Tran and the Tin Thanh Group Americas to our region, where they plan to build their first facility in the U.S.," said SouthernCarolina Alliance President and Chief Executive Officer Danny Black. "The jobs they are creating, and their capital investment will be a tremendous catalyst to growth in this rural area. Industries like Tin Thanh are the backbone of the regional economy and touch every aspect of the local community.”

According to its website, Tin Thanh Group is a pioneer in using renewable energy and reducing global emissions, aiming for a multi-industry business, sustainable development for an increasingly better environment and reducing emissions for this earth.

Supplying energy from reusable sources, Tin Thanh Group Americas will provide operations in recycled energy, closed industry-agriculture, recycled waste and tire leasing while serving the environment, energy, high-tech agriculture and technology markets, stated the release. With a focus on sustainability, the company is committed to implementing sustainable practices to lower the carbon-emission level and provide a cleaner environment.

Individuals interested in joining the Tin Thanh Group Americas team should email resumes to the company.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $1 million Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) grant to Allendale County to assist with the costs of site preparation and infrastructure improvements.

FAIRFAX, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Tin Thanh Group Americas, a tire manufacturer, on Tuesday announced plans to establish its first U.S. operations in Allendale County with a $68 million investment that will create 1,031 jobs.

Meanwhile, Orangeburg County will be the site of a global solar panel manufacturer’s first U.S. manufacturing plant.

Located at Walker Road in Fairfax, Tin Thanh Group Americas will build a new facility in Allendale County.

Tin Thanh Group Americas’ South Carolina location will allow the company to manufacture and retread large commercial vehicle tires, as well as operate its commercial tire leasing program.

HOW TO APPLY:

People interested in joining the Tin Thanh Group Americas team should email resumes to the company.

“Allendale County welcomes Tin Thanh Group Americas to our community, and we thank them for their investment in our future and our people,” said Allendale County Council Chairman Matthew Connelly. “Each of the more than one thousand jobs will make a difference in the lives of a family in the region because good jobs and good economic development change lives. We look forward to working with this fine company, which is committed to sustainability and good values, bringing prosperity and progress to our area.”

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Supplying energy from reusable sources, Tin Thanh Group Americas will provide operations in recycled energy, closed industry-agriculture, recycled waste and tire leasing while serving the environment, energy, high-tech agriculture and technology markets.

With a focus on sustainability, the company is committed to implementing sustainable practices to lower the carbon-emission level and provide a cleaner environment, according to the South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Operations are expected to be online by September 2024.

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The region already has a history in tire manufacturing, with two Bridgestone plants in Aiken County

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $1 million Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Allendale County to assist with the costs of site preparation and infrastructure improvements.

“This announcement once again shows the world has taken notice of the many benefits of doing business in South Carolina,” Gov. Henry McMaster said. “This major $68 million investment and 1,031 new jobs will be transformative for Allendale.”

Orangbuerg County will be the host of a global solar panel manufacturer’s first U.S. manufacturing plant.

Hounen Solar announced plans to invest $33 million in a new manufacturing operations facility that will create 200 new jobs.

The plant is located at 145 Millennium Drive, the company will be leasing a 200,720-square-foot plant. The plant will not only be the first United States plant for Hounen Solar but also the first South Carolina location for the company.

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McMaster said: “Hounen’s investment in Orangeburg County not only adds to the state’s growing renewable energy economy but also shows that South Carolina is a place where companies in every industry can thrive. We look forward to creating a strong partnership with Hounen for years to come and seeing the impact of these 200 new jobs.”

The Orangeburg County facility will allow announced plans to invest $33 million in a new manufacturing operations facility that will create 200 new jobs. to develop, manufacture and sell one gigawatt crystalline silicon PV panels in the U.S.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved the job development credits related to this project and also awarded Orangeburg county a $500,000 Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to help with the costs of building improvements.

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