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A developer is requesting to change more than 360 acres of residential land to industrial land.

ST. GEORGE, S.C. (WCSC) - Calling one place home all your life until a rezoning request sign pops up on your street. That is what happened to a group of people who live in St. George.

One developer is requesting to change more than 360 acres of residential land to industrial land that would affect large properties off Highway 78 one mile east of St. George.

Although Dorchester County’s plans do not say what exactly will be built in this area, a number of residents who have spent their whole lives here say they want their land to be kept the way they’ve always known it to be.

Richard Myers was born on Sugar Hill Road in St. George and has lived here all his life.

“Everybody seems to know that something big is going to happen in this area except the people that live here,” Myers said.

He owns around 37 acres, which has the possibility of turning into industrial land.

“All of this that we’re standing on now used to be our farm, but as the years changed... the farm got smaller,” Myers said. “But we still got a farm, and we want to keep it that way. We don’t want a factory sitting in the middle of it or a warehouse.”

Another resident in the area, Barbara Felder, is the sixth generation in her family to live here. Her grandparents and aunt’s home is still on the land.

She was asked what her reaction was when she first saw the Dorchester County rezoning sign down the street.

“We were shocked,” Felder said. “There were no letters or no communication about the changes in our area.”

Felder says she worries about how this rezoning could affect pollution, their roads and access to emergency vehicles.

“We shouldn’t let the county nor the developer to come in our community and tell us what to do as taxpayers and for our future,” Felder said.

Myers says he has no intention of selling his land but knows his taxes will rise if he doesn’t.

“If they want your property, they’re going to get it because they’re going to run your taxes sky high until you say, ‘Enough,’” Myers said. “‘I got to sell it because I can’t pay the taxes.’”

Both of them say they want to be involved with the rezoning process.

“We are tired of explaining and they need to change and not think about the almighty dollar that’s coming into Dorchester County area,” Felder said.

Dorchester County did not respond for a comment because Monday was a holiday. This rezoning still has to go through three readings before it can be approved.

To take a closer look at the official rezoning plan from the county, click here.

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South Carolina had a shocking 2022.

South Carolina saw a rise in lightning strikes year over year, placing it 23rd highest among states with the most lightning in 2022, a new report shows.

Vaisala Xweather, a weather, environmental and industrial measurements company, revealed the Palmetto State’s ranking as part of its annual lightning report. Released last week, the report details lightning trends across the U.S. by counting cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in each state. The company uses its own national detection network to detect lightning strikes all day, every day of the year.

“Lightning can start wildfires, cause power outages, and damage infrastructure. Monitoring lightning in real-time and analyzing long-term trends is essential for protecting life and property and understanding changes to our climate,” Chris Vagasky, meteorologist and lightning expert at Vaisala Xweather, said in a press release.

According to the report, South Carolina had more than 2.94 million total lightning counts in 2022 to earn its 23rd highest ranking. The state was ranked lower at 29th in 2021 with approximately 2.1 million total lightning counts.

But which place in South Carolina had the most lightning in 2022?

That honor goes to St. George, a small town in Dorchester County The town had 193 lightning events per square kilometer in 2022, the report states.

Texas ranked at the top of the list easily with more than 27 million lightning events in 2022. Florida, the second highest-ranked state, had about 18.7 million lightning events. The states of Louisiana, Oklahoma and Mississippi came in at third, fourth and fifth highest ranked respectively.

Also, May 21 was the single day in the U.S. with the most lightning events at about 3.3 million lightning bolts.

However, though Texas had the top spot, there were 14 million fewer lightning events there in 2022 compared to the previous year, the report states.

“Even as lightning counts across the continental United States returned closer to average levels, 22 states still saw below-average lightning – including Texas, which saw its count drop by 34% from 2021,” Vagasky said.

According to the National Weather Service, there were 19 reported lightning U.S. fatalities in 2022, none of which were in South Carolina.

This story was originally published January 10, 2023, 8:00 AM.

When asked about his proudest moment thus far, the answer was simple: "To be a Gamecock."

COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gamecocks legend George Rogers left it all on the football field, and then some, in his career. His many accolades are proof of that.

And even though he retired from the NFL in the 1980s, football players are still trying to emulate his career, which started in his hometown of Duluth, Georgia in 1958.

With support from his aunt, Othella Rogers, he worked incredibly hard at his craft, hauling himself up from humble beginnings to a football scholarship at the University of South Carolina.

During his time at USC, Rogers set the standard for Gamecock running backs with a still-record 5,204 rushing yards at the school.

George Rogers with aunt, Othella Rogers

Rogers though, said it wasn't all about him, and credited his success on the field to his offensive line. "I had good people to play in front of me," he explained. "You often can only do as good as your offensive line. At the University of South Carolina, I had a pretty good offensive line. I said if you guys can block it, I can run it, and that is how it was."

During the 1980 season, Rogers won the Heisman Trophy after leading the nation in rushing while topping the 100-yard mark in every game. He remains the Gamecocks' only Heisman winner.

Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE- IN this Dec. 1, 1980, file photo, South Carolina running back George Rogers embraces the Heisman Trophy awarded him at the Downtown Athletic Club in New York. Rogers was a standout college running back and ran for 1,781 yards, but Herschel Walker was a freshman at Georgia in 1980 and just as good. He finished third in voting behind the guy who really should have won it: Pitt defensive end Hugh Green, the Ndamukong Suh of his time. (AP Photo/Dave Pickoff, File)

The New Orleans Saints then drafted Rogers with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft.

In the pros, he led the NFL in rushing his rookie season with 1,674 yards and 13 touchdowns. His dominance on the field earned him the honor of NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, first-team All-Pro honors, and a Pro Bowl berth.

In 1985, he took his talents to the team now known as the Washington Commanders. Rogers helped lead them to a Super Bowl Championship in 1988.

Due to nagging injuries, Rogers would step away from the game, accumulating 7,176 rushing yards and 54 touchdowns in the NFL. "I played for seven years, and I enjoyed playing," Rogers said. "I started out with the New Orleans Saints and ended up with Washington, and I got a Super Bowl ring. So what else can I do?"

Credit: WLTX

Rogers' Heisman and Super Bowl rings

While successes mark his life, he also acknowledges that he faced some personal obstacles. "You're gonna stumble, some people do, and I have," he said. " People in South Carolina, they forgive you, but they don't forget. You know, I made mistakes. But the thing about it is, you've got to push through it. I'm a different, changed man in a better way."

Rogers said part of that change is thanks to being among a positive community, which includes his wife, Brenda, and seven children.

Credit: WLTX

George with his youngest son

"I have a nice, wonderful wife that does everything for me," he boasted. "I cannot complain."

Credit: George Rogers

George Rogers with his wife, Brenda

Even in retirement, the accolades continued to pour in. In 1997, Rogers was elected to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. He is also in the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame and the Georgia Hall of Fame.

In 2015, he was honored with a statue outside of Williams-Brice Stadium, the first Gamecock athlete to receive that honor.

Credit: WLTX

A new tribute to the arguably the greatest player in Gamecock football history now adorns the outside of Williams-Brice Stadium.

"For my family, for everybody, Gamecocks, it's great," said Rogers. "It'll be here a lot longer than I will (laughs)."

Even though Rogers is not hustling on the field, he is using his talents to help South Carolina students.

To ensure all teenagers have an opportunity at higher education, Rogers has dedicated part of his retirement to creating and running the George Rogers Foundation of the Carolinas. The foundation provides financial assistance to first-generation college students and financially supports local non-profit organizations, including Big Brothers and Big Sisters of the Midlands, Special Olympics, and Habitat for Humanity.

When he is not working to raise money for his foundation or cheering on the Gamecocks at a sporting event, Rogers also likes to spend his time fishing. "I don't care what time it is," Rogers joked. "I go up there (Greenwood), and I sit for hours."

Credit: AP

Heisman Trophy winner George Rogers smiles as he holds a New Orleans Saints jersey during a news conference, on April 29, 1981, in New Orleans. The only thing keeping George from becoming a Saint is a little matter of contract negotiation. (AP Photo/Jackson Hill)

And after all these years, pride in school and program remains top of mind. When asked about his proudest moment thus far, the answer was simple: "To be a Gamecock."

The match between St. George and Ethio Electric in round 17 of the Ethiopia Premier League will take place at Addis Abeba Stadium. The team that will be playing at home recently won a match against the team that is currently in second place in the standings, while the side that will be traveling recently lost a match to Bahir Dar Kenema.

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St. George - favorite to win this matchup

After their recent victory over their most serious competition in the league, St. George will enter this match in excellent form. St. George now have a five-point lead over their closest league competitor going into this match, which is a lead that they have the potential to enhance if they win this match at home. When looking at the home team's form leading up to this contest, it is clear that they have been playing very well, as they have won four of their last five matches. These victories came against Legetafo Legedadi, Hadiya Hossana, Dire Dawa, and Ethiopian Insurance, with their fifth match against Ethiopia Bunna ending in a draw. During those contests, St. George notched ten goals while only allowing three.

Ethio Electric - visiting Electric not in a good form

Ethio Electric will probably hope for a better result in this game, and the away team's coach, Kifle Boltena, will probably expect more from his players. The away club comes into this match as one of the weaker teams in the league. They have only amassed 8 points in the 16 league matches they have already played this season. In fact, during the course of their most recent 14 league matches, they have not won a single one. They have only managed to score 16 goals over the entirety of this season, but they have given up ten more.

Expert Betting Tips

The home team is simply superior, is currently in excellent form, and is unbeatable at this point in the contest. The away team has no chance of winning. As a result, I predict a victory for the home team during the first half of this match. When you consider how successful the home team has been in front of the goal, you can see how potent their attack is. I believe that they will keep up that level of play here in this match against Ethio Electric, who has a weak defense line, because Ethio Electric has been successful in front of the goal. Because of this, a wager on the home team to score three goals is also a viable option.

Small town hospitality and historic charm are hallmarks of St. George the county seat of Dorchester County. Originally known as George’s Station along the South Carolina Railroad, the Town of St. George was incorporated in January 1875.

Before the construction of Interstates 26 and 95, St. George was a popular stop for tourists traveling to Florida by way of U.S. Highway 15. Today, the Town of St. George is easily accessible from the interstate.

Dive deep into the town’s local history at The Heritage Museum, located in the former County Courthouse at 101 Ridge St. A nonprofit formed in 2014, the Dorchester County Archives & History Center is dedicated to preserving the past for future generations. The organization is working to digitize more than 100,000 documents for researchers. Plus, a detailed photo collection of the Lowcountry donated by Brandon Coffey is available to view at the museum. Visit Tuesday through Saturday; tickets are $5 each for adults.

Appleby’s Methodist Church is a one-story wooden Methodist church built between 1840 and 1850. Visit today to see how the church looked in the mid-1800s – an example of Greek Revival meeting house style – with two rows of pews thought to be the originals. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Feb. 14, 1978.

Indian Field Camp Ground is a rustic and simple Methodist campground still in use today. It was built in 1848 with 99 wooden cabins that form a circle around a large wooden tabernacle and preaching area. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 30, 1973.

Another of the area’s Methodist camps is Shady Grove, a place of worship created by former slaves in 1870. The campground consisted of rustic cabins – known as "tents – that have been passed down from generation to generation. Fire destroyed the original tents in the late 1950s. Even though they were replaced, many of those tents burned in two more fires. Much of the camp was rebuilt in the early 1990s. Families continue to gather each October for camp meeting of fellowship and worship.

There are also two additional Methodist campgrounds in the surrounding area, St. Paul and Cypress, making this part of the county a time capsule for long-standing religious traditions.

Don’t miss the historic Koger-Murray-Carroll-House, so named in honor of its past owners. Dating back to at least 1775, was once an important stagecoach stop between inland settlements and Charleston. The exact construction date remains unknown, but it's thought to be the oldest house in Dorchester County.

Located in the heart of St. George is the Klauber Building. Built in 1894, it was first a mercantile serving a community bustling with railroad commerce. Today, the building houses an area chamber of commerce, visitor center and town museum. It’s open each weekday.

The Klauber also hosts the weekly St. George Farmers Market. Stop by from 3-6 p.m. each Thursday through Oct. 27 for local farm fresh produce, foods, art, culture and music.

Also situated in the center of St. George at 206 Parler Avenue is the Lourie Theatre, built in the 1920s to show silent movies. In the early 1980s, the theatre closed, and the building began to deteriorate. Several years later, a group of dedicated community members banded together to restore the theatre – now a vibrant performing arts center for the town.

Constructed in 1925, the Rosenwald School was a six-teacher school created by educator Booker T. Washington and the philanthropic president of Sears & Roebuck, Julius Rosenwald. The two men began a program to construction schools for African-American children. They completed 5,400 schools in states around the South. Thousands of children attended these schools between 1912 and the late 1950s when schools became integrated. In 2014, the school, located at 205 Ann Street, was given in trust to the Town of St. George and work began on the restoration and preservation of the building.

Before you start your journey exploring St. George stop by the Klauber Building at 225 Parler Avenue for tips and directions.

You’ll see many beautiful vintage homes driving around St. George, including the 1912 Badham House, pictured here.