Personal Injury Attorney in Summerville, SC.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) — The Summerville Town Council approved an ordinance Thursday night allowing people to carry beer or wine while walking through designated areas of the downtown business district.

Under the proposal, open containers would be permitted Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. in a defined area around the town’s main square.

Mayor Russ Touchberry said the council looked at the impact a similar ordinance had in Hartsville, S.C., before moving forward.

“This council has been working extraordinarily hard to create a business-friendly environment and to make sure that the atmosphere of Summerville is vibrant for all users,” Touchberry said. “And it creates opportunities for folks to come into town and enjoy our shops and our restaurants and all of our businesses.”

Touchberry described the ordinance as opt-in and opt-out, with the open container zone confined to the business district. That includes parts of South Cedar Street, West Doty Avenue, East Doty Avenue, South Magnolia Street, South Main Street, East Richardson Avenue, Central Avenue, West 2nd South Street, and West Richardson Avenue.

“It’s intended to kind of increase foot traffic, create a vibrant atmosphere, and it’s completely opt-in, opt-out as people deem necessary,” he said. “But the area will be very confined to the business district and a lot of structure around that.”

Some residents and business owners have raised concerns about enforcement and liability. Community members Diane Frankenberger and Amy Pereira questioned who would be held responsible if someone drank and drove.

“Who is responsible then?” Frankenberger said. “Is it the town or the business? Where they’re last served. Is it all of the above?” Pereira said.

Frankenberger, who has worked and lived in Summerville for decades, said she was hesitant when she first heard about the proposal.

“The first time it was brought up at a town council meeting, I thought this is nuts and who does that benefit,” she said.

Since the first town council meeting, however, Frankenberger said she trusts the mayor, police force and council to make the right call.

“I want to see accountability of did business really improve?” Frankenberger said. “What has made the difference?”

Touchberry said he does not expect behavior to change among bar owners or consumers.

“I know our bar owners are all very good professionals and they’re not going to serve somebody who’s already indicated that they’re overserved,” he said.

The ordinance takes effect immediately.

One year shy of its “Sweet 16,” Summerville’s Sweet Tea Festival will return for its 15th year on Sept. 19 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Organized by Summerville DREAM, the festival does much more than highlight the town’s claim as the birthplace of sweet tea. It’s an economic driver for small businesses and the largest gathering of local vendors outside of the YMCA Flowertown Festival. Around 20,000 people came out last year, noted Mayor Russ Touchberry.

“The return on investment for the community is massive,” Summerville DREAM Executive Director Steve Doniger said last year. “We have brick-and-mortar stores that tell us this event makes their rent for the month. That’s why we do this.”

“This is our way of helping entrepreneurs connect directly with customers,” Doniger reflected after last year’s festival. “It’s an economic driver, yes, but it’s also a community builder.”

This year's theme is "Born to be Sweet" to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. In addition to extended hours of the Farmers Market, there will be a plethora of artisans, live entertainment, food, sweet tea merchandise, a kid zone and the Food Lion Hospitality zone.

Two days earlier on Thursday, Sept. 17 from 5:30-8:30 p.m., families can enjoy DREAM’s monthly Third Thursday event at Hutchinson Square. On Friday, Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m., Main Street Reads has organized a special conversation between USA Today bestselling author Catherine Mann and Ashley River Library Branch Manager Leslie Koller at Flowertown Players Theatre.

“We’ll gather…for a lively author talk celebrating Catherine’s moving new Southern novel, then head back up the street to Main Street Reads for a Sip & Sign with treats [and] sweet tea,” said Main Street Reads Owner Shari Stauch.

Summerville’s weeklong Hold My Tea Bar Crawl and Sweet Tea Cocktail Contest will return Sept. 14-20, giving residents and visitors an opportunity to sample sweet tea-inspired cocktails while supporting local bars and restaurants. The Visit Summerville event will feature 12 establishments competing for both a People's Choice Award and a Critic's Choice Award. Participants can visit locations at their own pace, try specialty cocktails and vote for their favorite bartender. For more information, visit VisitSummerville.com/sweet-tea-trail.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCIV) — The South Carolina Department of Public Health is investigating a tuberculosis exposure at Summerville High School and is working with school officials to identify people who may have been exposed.

In a statement, the department said it cannot identify the person who tested positive for active tuberculosis because of federal and state privacy laws.

Health officials said they are working closely with the school to determine which students, staff or others may have been exposed to the tuberculosis germ and should be tested.

The agency directed the public to its website and the CDC's website for additional information and answers to frequently asked questions about tuberculosis.

"We were notified that that individual's contagious period was the later portion of the 25-26 school year," says Amanda Sims, Director of Nursing and Health Services with DD2. "We worked closely with SCDPH to assist with that contact tracing process, as well as ensure that our community is notified, as well as provide an opportunity for testing for those individuals identified as close contacts."

Sims says the district has no reason to believe anyone associated with the situation is under isolation or quarantine.

"We are not excluding anyone from our buildings at this time," she says.

While tuberculosis is uncommon, that gap between infection and detection is not.

"It can take a month or two before anyone starts developing true symptoms," says Dr. Matthew Hanley, an emergency medicine physician with HCA Healthcare. "And it is relatively rare to start developing symptoms. There is a difference between latent infection versus active infection. You're only contagious during active infection."

The district sent out letters advising families who may have been exposed that free testing will be available. A consent form must be completed by Aug. 11. DD2 and SCDPH recommend testing, but it is not required.

"The health department may contact parents, guardians, or staff member close contacts directly to attempt to obtain that consent," says Sims.

Tuberculosis is airborne, and it typically takes one to three hours of exposure to become infected, with very young children and the elderly most at risk.

"Most schools are gonna be relatively well ventilated," says Dr. Hanley. "If you're in class with somebody, the classes only last so long, so your exposure can only be so long."

DD2 officials say they've already taken extra steps to keep students safe.

"That cleaning process, those extra precautions from our custodial services department have already taken place," adds Sims. "We're doing everything we can to keep students and staff healthy as we enter the new school year."

The district urges parents with concerns to monitor communications from the school system and the Department of Health and to consult their healthcare provider with individual concerns.

In the last five years in South Carolina, the state has had an average of 87 tuberculosis disease cases, according to the Department of Public Health.

READ MORE | "SC Dept. of Public Health launches program to combat tuberculosis cases."

What is Tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that most often affects the lungs and spreads through the air when a person with active TB disease coughs, speaks or sings. It has been around for at least 5,400 years.

Tuberculosis was previously called consumption, and in the early 1800s it is believed to have caused about one-third of all deaths globally, according to the Department of Public Health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people who are identified as close contacts of someone with active TB may be advised to undergo testing. The Department of Public Health said tuberculosis can be treated with antibiotics.

Tuberculosis remains one of the deadliest infectious diseases. It is extremely prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, where healthcare isn't as readily funded. In the United States, Tuberculosis is relatively rare. However, in close settings like jails, schools, detention centers and prisons, spread remains high-risk.

People with latent TB infection carry the bacteria that cause tuberculosis but do not have symptoms and cannot spread the infection to others. However, they may develop active TB disease later and are often treated to help prevent that from happening.

People with active TB disease have bacteria that are multiplying in the body, typically causing symptoms. Those with TB affecting the lungs or throat can spread the disease to others and are treated with antibiotics to eliminate the infection.

Without medication, about 10% of people infected with tuberculosis will develop TB disease at some point in their life, according to the Department of Public Health.

According to data from the CDC, in 2025 TB cases were provisionally reported with a corresponding rate of 3.0 cases per 100,000 population. That number represented a decrease of 1% in cases and 2% in rates from 2024 to 2025.

In line with previous years, in 2025, TB disease disproportionately affected non-U.S.–born persons. Non-U.S.-born individuals were 77% of total TB cases in 2025. Meanwhile, U.S.-born individuals made up 22%, according to the CDC.

Symptoms of tuberculosis include fever, chills, night sweats, loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue.

When was the last outbreak?

One of the more recent large-scale outbreaks occurred in the Kansas City metropolitan area from 2024 through 2025.

In 2024, 113 cases of tuberculosis were recorded in Kansas compared to 51 in 2023.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment never identified the source of the outbreak. However, in November of 2025, after all patients completed treatment, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment declared the end of the outbreak.

Other outbreaks include at least 12 people detained at a federal immigration jail in Colorado who contracted the disease in 2026 and at Archbishop Riordan High School, where students and staff tested positive between November 2025 and April 2026, according to the San Francisco Department of Public Health.

KTVU reported in May that nearly one in five students and staff at San Francisco’s Archbishop Riordan High School have been diagnosed with latent or active tuberculosis, the latest development in an outbreak that started in November.

South Carolina's Tuberculosis Control Program protects the public by identifying cases, treating active tuberculosis disease and latent tuberculosis infection, identifying and testing people exposed to tuberculosis, and conducting targeted evaluations of those at high risk of developing the disease.

Tuberculosis reporting requirements are listed on the Department of Public Health's website.

The Summerville Girls Volleyball team has faced strong competition early this season.

The Green Wave faced some quality teams from the upper part of the state during a tournament in Aiken Aug. 29. Summerville went 2-1-1 in the tournament, defeating Mauldin and T.L. Hanna while tying with Riverside and losing to Greenville. Summerville also has regular season wins over Bishop England, Berkeley and James Island and losses to Lucy Beckham and Palmetto Christian Academy.

Summerville coach Liz Yohe is hoping the competition will prepare her squad for a good post-season run.

“We are taking it one game at a time but this group could go far,” Yohe said. “Most of these seniors have played together since middle school. Depth wise I think this is the best team I’ve had. All these girls are talented so I don’t have to worry about any position if something happens.”

Junior Molly Jackson and senior Emilia Markovick set the tone for the team offensively and defensively.

“They are my playmakers and also lead vocally,” Yohe said. “They hold themselves and others accountable and just do a good job.”

Haylee Sexton, Finley Dungan, Audrey Schlabach, Jordan Espinal, Brinley Farmer, Madeline Baldwin, Maddie Didelot and junior libero Claire Bunao also bring considerable varsity experience to the floor. Other members of the team are Braelle Runion, Hannah Cramer, Alexis Robins and Eve Schlabach.

Last season, Summerville advanced to the third round of the playoff before being eliminated with a loss to Wando.

This year’s win over James Island is significant because it was the region opener for both teams. Last season the Trojans swept the region to claim the region championship. The teams will play again Sept. 24 at Summerville.

The only change to the region is the addition of Stratford, which Summerville faces Sept. 10 and Oct. 6.

“We haven’t played Stratford in a couple of years so hopefully they will add a competitive piece,” Yohe said. “It adds extra games so I like that.”

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) — Two former care facility employees face felony charges after state investigators said a vulnerable adult was left strapped to a toilet for an hour with a leaking feeding tube.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division announced Thursday that Angela Rose Peterson, also known as Angela Poynter, 46, of Ladson, and Sherika Tamika Reid Myles, 41, of North Charleston, have been charged with neglect of a vulnerable adult.

According to arrest warrants, the incident occurred on May 20, 2026, at the Coastal Regional Center in Summerville. The facility, located at 9995 Miles Jamison Road, is operated by the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Investigators said Peterson, who was working as a registered nurse, discovered the victim strapped to a toilet with a leaking gastrostomy tube (G-tube). Instead of immediately addressing the issue, Peterson wrapped a towel around the leaking tube and continued administering medications. Warrants state she waited an hour for the next shift nurse to arrive to help fix the tube, leaving the victim strapped to the toilet the entire time.

Reid Myles, who was working as a direct support professional, was assigned to care for the victim. Investigators said the victim was left alone for an hour, violating a safety requirement that mandated checks every five minutes.

During that hour, the victim fell and was later found in a squatted position on the floor in front of the toilet, still strapped in, according to warrants.

SLED agents said the allegations were corroborated through staff interviews, facility surveillance videos, and other evidence.

Peterson and Reid Myles were arrested Tuesday and booked into the Dorchester County Detention Center. The 1st Circuit Solicitor’s Office will prosecute the case. SLED took over the investigation at the request of the Coastal Regional Center.

The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities released the following statement:

“The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (BHDD) is aware of two recent arrests following an allegation of neglect at Coastal Regional Center. BHDD requested the investigation and is working closely with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Because this is an active case, any requests for information or updates should be made directly to SLED. As always, BHDD takes the safety of individuals in our care with the utmost seriousness and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement.”