Ray Goza installs ceiling tiles at Fayetteville Regional Airport earlier this month. (David Kennard/Greater Fayetteville Business Journal)

Jobless rate data shows slight uptick locally

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Cumberland County’s unemployment rate increased slightly in May, according to figures just released by North Carolina’s Department of Commerce.

The unemployment rate of 6.4 percent of the county’s labor force remains far lower than May 2020 when it was 16.9 percent at the height of COVID-19 disruptions.

“Historically, the end of the school year and start of summer have often seen a small pull back in employment,” said Robert Van Geons, President and CEO of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Economic Development Corporation (FCEDC). “With hundreds of good jobs immediately available in Cumberland County, we’re optimistic that our overall employment trend will continue improving over the next few months. For those looking to reenter the workforce, there is no better time than now.”

Van Geons also said Cumberland County’s .2 percent increase is in keeping with, or less than neighboring counties.

Robeson County recorded the highest unemployment rate among Cumberland County’s closest neighbors, but generally the trend has continued to improve in recent months.

Harnett County rose just slightly from 4.7 percent in April to 4.9 percent in May. Likewise, Hoke County’s jobless rate jumped from 5.8 percent in April to 6.1 percent in May.

Moore County went from 4.1 percent to 4.2 percent during the same period, and Robeson County went from 6.5 percent in April to 6.8 percent in May.

Sampson County posted the best results among Cumberland County’s closest neighbors, showing a jobless rate of 4.1 percent in May, up from April’s 3.8 percent.

North Carolina’s statewide average showed a very small increase from 4.4 percent in April to 4.5 percent in May.

From a big picture point of view, 92 out of 100 North Carolina counties saw their unemployment rate stay the same or go up, according to Van Geons. “So we appear  consistent with most of the state.”

Most economists generally consider a state of full employment to be anything less than an unemployment rate of 3 percent, due to frictional unemployment, which occurs as workers are in the process of moving from one job to another.

The period between April and May also saw a slight decrease in Cumberland County’s labor force from 125,987 to 124,640 — a loss of 1,347 workers.

Data released Wednesday also showed that the Fayetteville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) saw a labor force decrease from 145,824 in April to 144,306 in May — a loss of 1,518 workers. That compares to the Raleigh MSA that saw the labor force decline by 3,431 workers — 724,944 in April to 721,513 in May, according to the Department of Commerce data.

Editor's Notes: Farm fresh food available locally

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

I don’t like snakes. I’ve tried to like them, really I have. 

My earliest run-ins with snakes involve my grandmother’s garden, a magical place where my brother, sisters and I would spend several hours a day during our summer visits.

My grandmother, Dorothy, lived in a small town in central Kansas. That’s right, Dorothy, from Kansas. She had a scarecrow in her very large garden, but no tin man or lion — certainly no flying monkeys or munchkins; unless you count us kids.

David Kennard

I always grow a little nostalgic when I start seeing farmers markets pop up. 

Have a look on page 11 of this edition of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. Michael Futch’s story is part one of a two-part series on the District Summer Market at Festival Park. Watch for the followup story in the July 23 edition by Jami McLaughlin.

There is absolutely no substitute for farm fresh fruits and vegetables. And despite ad campaigns touting “farm fresh” or “organic” goods, I know what farm fresh means because I’ve eaten straight from my grandmother’s garden. I’ve picked cherries and shucked corn after pulling it from the stalk.

Like so many towns across the Midwest, wheat, soybeans and silage kept the local economy going. While farmers worked the fields, their wives and young children kept the gardens at home producing more exotic treats, such as peas, beans, sweet corn, cabbage, tomatoes and — easily my favorite, asparagus.

The small supermarket on the town square relied on fresh vegetables from the backyard gardens of the folks living nearby. In fact, when grandma would take us with her to do her shopping, it seemed like we often brought more groceries in than we’d take out.

I grew up in Denver, Colorado, and our annual pilgrimage to Kansas usually began right after school was out for the summer. My parents would point the Rambler station wagon east and we’d set out across the plains, usually arriving as the sun was going down. 

Grandma would get us up early the next morning to help her in the garden. We’d put on aprons and set out down the rows to pull weeds and pick out whatever was ripe.

That poor scarecrow guarding the patch of corn always made me feel a little sad. His faded overalls and tattered shirt got more faded and more tattered every summer.

I must have been in middle school when I saw the snakes in Grandma’s garden for the first time. Growing up in suburban Denver, I hadn’t had a lot of experience with snakes. But I’d seen enough television shows to know to stay away from them.

It took me quite a while to figure out that Grandma’s snakes weren’t real snakes at all. After my first squawk, grandma quickly walked over to reassure me that these were “Scare Snakes.”

She said they helped the scarecrow keep the birds away.

Upon closer inspection, I saw that her snakes were just rubber toys that you can buy at any toy store, and some were just pieces of fabric that she’d crafted that kind of looked like snakes. I’m not sure if they worked on birds, but they definitely worked on young boys.

After we’d collected enough food, or complained enough, Grandma would shoo us back up to the house to wash up before helping her with dinner.

My favorite: Soup of all kinds, cherry pie and of course, asparagus.

Years later, my wife and I have had gardens of different kinds and I’ve learned that small gardens are much better — for me anyway — than anything close to my grandmother’s.

For the last couple of years, I’ve had container gardens — mostly growing tomatoes, but I’ve experimented with sweetcorn and green beans and various other things.

Unfortunately I’ve never been able to duplicate my grandmother’s asparagus plants. I’m not giving up, though. Perhaps I’ll wander down to the farmers market in search of some farm fresh food.

David Kennard is the executive editor of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal.

Cape Fear Botanical Gardens board members celebrate the event by conducting a traditional mortgage burning at the center. (Photo by David Kennard/Greater Fayetteville Business Journal)

Botanical Garden honors Huffs for many contributions

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

The Cape Fear Botanical Garden’s orangery now carries a new name: “The Ralph & Linda Huff Orangery.”

The Huffs were instrumental in raising funds to pay off the existing mortgage on the center, which serves as a gathering place, event venue or for its traditional use — a refuge for citrus trees during cold weather.

On Thursday, it served as the backdrop for a mortgage burning with about a hundred donors and guests looking on.

“Paying off the mortgage on this world-class building is a milestone worthy of a celebration and we are extremely grateful for your generous support,” said Keith Tilghman, president of the executive board at the botanical garden.

Susie McFadyen, vice president of development, pointed to the many gifts of time, work and money to see the project to completion.

“Linda and Ralph have been generous in sharing their success, and their altruism is reflected throughout our community.” McFayden said. “As we neared the end of the Campaign of Natural Growth, the Huffs stepped forward, offering to not only provide the funds needed to complete the campaign, but also to provide a gift significant enough that the care and maintenance of the orangery and the gardens that surround it would be provided for many years to come.”

“Therefore, I am so very pleased to announce that, from this day forward, this beautiful room in which we all stand will be known as the Ralph and Linda Huff Orangery,” McFayden said. “Linda, Ralph, we are all forever grateful for this latest example of your benevolence.”

McFayden said many others provided or helped raise funds to finish the project at the gardens.

Bill Pollitt, vice president of the executive board, pointed to others, connected to the fund-raising effort. Joan Allen and Harvey Wright were the two co-chairs of the Campaign for Natural Growth. Jay Wyatt also stood up to represent his mother, Dot Wyatt, “who not only served as the honorary chair of the campaign, but who also served for so many years as a volunteer and ambassador for the garden,” Pollitt said.

Pollitt asked Jennifer Sullivan to also step forward as well. 

“I am now giving the $3.1 million note and deed of trust from BB&T to Joan (Allen) and Harvey (Wright) and Jay (Wyatt) and Jennifer (Sullivan) and Keith (Tilghman) so that they can burn it, afterwhich, Jay and Charlene Wyatt will offer a toast for the occasion.”

Once the crowd moved to the Orangery Terrace where a fire pit stood waiting, those holding pages of the bank documents ceremoniously placed the pages into the fire.

Earlier, Tilghman explained the significance of the ceremony.

“Paying off the mortgage on this world-class building is a milestone worthy of celebration and we are extremely grateful for your generous support,” Tilghman said. “Being debt-free represents another new beginning. As we look to the future, we acknowledge our next important campaign is to grow our endowment. Average annual payout from the Garden’s endowments at Cumberland Community Foundation is a little over $100,000.”

Tilghaman said that to maintain the garden as a vibrant community resource, a payout of $200,000 to $250,000 annually is needed.

“We must now grow our endowment by an additional $2.5 million to $3.8 million to ensure that Cape Fear Botanical Garden will be a healthy, vibrant part of our community for many years to come,” he said.

About Cape Fear Botanical Garden

Cape Fear Botanical Garden was founded in 1989 on 80 acres located between the Cape Fear River and Cross Creek. The gardens feature many blooming ornamental plants, camellia, daylillies and shade gardens, as well as a butterfly stroll and Children’s Garden.

The gardens have hosted many special occasions such as weddings, business and military functions. Find more information at https://www.capefearbg.org/about-us/ .

Holiday drivers keep a watch on gas prices. David Kennard/Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Holiday drivers calculate price of gas during long weekend

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Most gas stations around the region have returned to normal supply levels, although drivers may find some stations operating at limited capacity or with only one grade of gasoline.

Still, drivers looking to get out of town for the Memorial Day holiday shouldn’t be too worried about supplies; it’s the price of gas that might get you.

According to gasprices.aaa.com, drivers will find the gasoline in the Fayetteville area averaging $2.88 per gallon. Compare that to other locations around the state:

Raleigh $2.94.
Wilmington: $2.87
Charlotte: $2.87
Asheville: $2.953

Officials at AAA said after a week of price spikes around the country, most stations have begun to hold steady at a little more than $3 per gallon.

Travelers planning long drives over the weekend will find that the Southeast leads the nation with average lower prices following the ransomware attack on the Colonial Pipeline. Drivers out West are seeing average prices in the mid-$3 per gallon range. California remains the leader in high prices, where gasoline is selling for an average of $4.17 per gallon.

“AAA expects 37 million Americans to travel, mostly by car and plane, for the Memorial Day holiday weekend,” said Jeanette McGee, AAA spokesperson. “That is a 60% increase over last year’s holiday and a strong indication that summer travel is going to be largely popular. With the increase in travel demand, gas prices are going to be expensive no matter where you fill up, so plan ahead.”

Calculating gasoline into your travel plans may be a determining factor on where you can afford to go. Assuming you’re going to be paying around $3 per gallon and you're driving the family Suburban getting 22 miles per gallon (highway), here’s a look at the cost of getting to some regional destinations and back.

Asheboro, $22.80
Wilmington, $24.67
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, $29.50
Wright Brothers monument, $64.36
Raleigh, $20.11
Uwharrie camping, $21.45
Devils Gut Kayaking, $40.23
Charlotte, $37.55
Battleship North Carolina, $23.87

The price of gasoline that drivers see at the pump depends loosely on supply and demand but also on industry fluctuations, according to AAA officials.

On Thursday AAA stated that new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), showed total domestic refinery utilization increased slightly to 86.3 percent last week, while total domestic supply decreased by 2 million bbl to 234.2 million bbl and demand increased from 8.8 million b/d to 9.2 million b/d. 

With the gasoline distribution system continuing to recover from the attack and grappling with a shortage of gasoline tanker drivers, higher refinery utilization rates will ensure refined products, including gasoline, continue to flow where they are most needed. 

“As demand and supply move in sync, the national average is expected to continue stabilizing through the weekend,” according to a prepared statement from AAA. “However, we could see some fluctuation … with the lead up to Memorial Day Weekend, during which AAA forecasts 34 million Americans to take road trips.”

Editor's Notes: Find great tools from creative people inside

By David Kennard
Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Thank you for picking up this second edition of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. 

Our team here in Fayetteville has put in some long hours to bring you a mix of stories, all related to local business and industry. It’s my hope that you find the content interesting, helpful and engaging.

We had a great response to the inaugural edition that was distributed at select locations throughout the area, so much so that even our surplus copies are beginning to run low.

David Kennard

“Not to worry,” as my entrepreneurial father in law liked to say. 

You may remember Caractacus Potts from the classic film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” My wife’s father came from that same mold. He loved a challenge, and regardless of the obstacle, eventually he’d find a solution.

With that in mind, if you missed the inaugural edition of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal, you can find all the stories — as well as an electronic edition — online at bizfayetteville.com.

By the time you read this, our team is already hard at work on the June 25 edition. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As you flip through this edition, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss a few things.

First, you’ll want to thumb over to page 15 to find the story about Yoniara Montoya and her Yo! Shee Vegan food truck here in Fayetteville.

While many of us were busy hoarding toilet paper, Montoya was busy turning her passion into a unique business. Sure, you can sample many of her creations from her mobile restaurant, but you can find even more ideas, recipes and blog posts at yosheevegan.com.

Look, I like meat as much as the next guy, but some of these vegan creations are truly amazing.

With your tummy full, you’re going to want to learn more about the Fort Bragg Clay Target Center. Find that story page 23.

This is a little-known community asset that is going gangbusters, and is becoming even more popular with the corporate crowd looking for team building fun.

Take off your jacket, put on your safety glasses and earplugs and fire off a few shells not too far away from the artillery fire we’ve all come to know and love here in Fayetteville.

Don’t have a shotgun? Don’t worry, the pro shop has you covered. Call ahead to make sure there’s room for you or your group, bring some extra cash for the shells and snacks, then go destroy some clay pigeons.

A few of other things you’ll want to find in this edition are the “Biz Leads” on page 21, “The List” on page 22 and the “Achievers” column on page 6. These are designed to be usable features that provide information on things happening around here.

Pay special attention to the “Achievers” column; this is a list that is supplied primarily by readers like you. We are always looking for folks in your organization that are making moves, receiving accolades or doing other things that you’re proud of. You can send your news items to me at editor@bizfayetteville.com.

Now, on to the next edition…

Coming in the next edition, you’ll find the return of the popular economic indicators that we’ve compiled. 

As I’ve been pugging in the numbers for many of the charts and other graphics you’ll find on page 3 of the June 25 paper, I discovered how very telling things have been over the last year. 

For instance, you’ll see that the unemployment rate remained relatively steady -- well except for the whole March-to-April anomaly that sent our local workforce and employers reeling.

I should qualify the use of the word “steady.” With most economists considering full employment as anywhere between 4 percent and 6 percent, you can see that we’ve performed pretty well — even throttled by COVID-19. Of course we’ll have a much better idea once the state’s Department of Commerce releases its May jobless report in late June.

Watch for us to break that story online at bizfayetteville.com on June 30. You also can track us on Twitter at @bizfayetteville.

Speaking of economic indicators, you can really pay little attention to the gas prices listed in the chart coming on June 25, because, well, does anyone have any idea on what we’re going to pay at the pump? The only real data you’ll find there is how the average gas price has changed over the last year, but even that trend shows fluctuation that makes it hard to plan around.

Back in the 1970s, when gas became scarce and I traded in my Chevy Nova for a Toyota Corolla to save money on both gas and repairs, my father-in-law invented something “very clever” to save money on a simple car repair. 

When his windshield wipers failed to wipe, instead of shelling out big bucks to replace the motor, he used some nylon string and shoulder power to yank on the wiper before it fwapped back into position.

Caractacus Potts would have been proud.

David Kennard is the Executive Editor of the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal. Contact him at davidk@bizfayetteville.com or 910-240-9697, ext. 104.

Randy Fiveash, former director of the Connecticut Office Of Tourism, accepted an offer to run the Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau as interim director.

Randy Fiveash tapped to lead visitors bureau; Former Connecticut Tourism chief named interim director

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

In April, when Randy Fiveash retired after 13 years as director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism, he had planned to slow down and, maybe teach a class or two on the college level — after all, he’s been working in the tourism industry for more than four decades.

It didn’t work out that way.

“I was retired for about 20 minutes,” he said.

That’s not far off.

When Randy’s wife, Shari Fiveash, accepted the position of president and chief executive officer at the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, he was happy to follow her along to North Carolina.

During an interview with the Greater Fayetteville Business Journal in May, Shari Fayetteville said that during her husband’s various career moves she was happy to follow him and find suitable positions that fit her skills.

She said when she accepted the offer to come to Fayetteville, she and Randy found their traditional roles reversed. Little did they know at the time that now-retired Randy would find a niche of his own here in Fayetteville.

Within days of their arrival, city and county officials tapped Randy to dive back into the tourism industry, this time on the county level.

“I’m enjoying it,” he said. “This is what I’ve been doing for 40 years.”

Fiveash replaces John Meroski, who left the position in March 2020.

His official title is Interim Director, a position he said has no end date.

In his new role, Fiveash said he’s got a long list of things to review at the bureau.

“There are alot of things we need to dig into and review,” Fiveash said. “There is a great need to be more community active.”

According to a 2020 audit report made available by Cumberland County, the visitors bureau “provides services to promote the development and expansion of travel and tourism.”

Fiveash said he has received support and direction from the county — which provides the bulk of the bureau’s budget — and the bureau’s board of directions.

The 11 members on the board also direct much of the focus for the bureau.

“We are taking a real look and understanding of what the Convention and Visitors Bureau does,” Fiveash said.

He said he’s already made some subtle changes within the CVB office to help the staff operate smoother.

Additionally, he said he wanted to perform some internal audits to make sure the bureau has its focus in the right place.

“I believe in research based marketing,” Fiveash said.

The bureau is involved in many local events, but Fiveash said “If the research isn’t there, [we] shouldn’t be allowed to do it.”

He said the bureau is looking “through the lens of ‘Can you measure it?’” 

With that in mind, Fiveash said his office is looking very carefully to ensure current programs, events and contracts with vendors measure up.

Randy Fiveash has an office inside the Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau just off the square in downtown Fayetteville.

From there it’s a 15 minute walk to Shari Fiveash’s office on Ray Street near Segra Stadium.

Shari Fiveash joined the chamber as it’s president and CEO in March.

While the couple works near each other, there is no doubt that their paths are going to cross professionally.

Shari Fiveash recently summed up the professional relationship saying, “The Fayetteville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau works to bring people to Fayetteville. It’s the chamber’s job to help businesses once they are here.”

Randy Fiveash acknowledged that while he and his new team have a lot on their to-do list, he’s confident that the bureau will remain a relevant tool for the Fayetteville area.

When asked about his dream of teaching, he said simply, “I’ll get to it.”

Fiveash brings new leadership to Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce

By David Kennard

Greater Fayetteville Business Journal

Most people don’t get to see themselves on a screen 25 feet high by 70 feet wide, but during her introduction to the local business community, Shari Fiveash found herself staring out the window of the AEVEX Veterans Club of Segra Stadium with her name in lights and watching the Fayetteville Woodpeckers practicing on the field below.

Shar Fiveash

As the new president and CEO of the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, Fiveash brings leadership and fresh ideas to the chamber, which has been without a president for a little less than a year. 

Former President Christine Michaels, resigned from the position in October for a similar role at the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce in Tennessee.

During Fiveash’s introduction on May 3, Tammy Thurman, community relations manager at Piedmont Natural Gas, and part of the search committee, provided information about the chamber’s selection process.

She pointed to the 30-plus years of experience, as well as her lobbying background that made Fiveash stand out from other candidates.

Fiveash, who sat down with the Business Journal on May 12, said several times that one of the organization’s primary functions should be to advocate for local businesses of all sizes, that includes representing the business community in front of various legislative bodies at both the statehouse in Raleigh and Washington, D.C.

She again echoed her comments made during her instruction on May 3, saying she felt blessed for finding such a good fit for her experience and skills.

“I think it’s very important that we thank both the city and the county for making the community what it is because it drew us here,” Fiveash said. She said that when she came to interview for the position, that “I have never been more comfortable in an interview.”

Fiveash comes to Fayetteville with her husband, Randy, from Hartford Connecticut where she was a partner with Fiveash Consulting, to market business development in the state of Connecticut. Randy Fiveash recently retired from his position as director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism.

According to prepared information from the Greater Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce, Fiveash is an accomplished strategy executive with more than 30 years of proven leadership in chamber of commerce and tourism industries.

“She has had repeated success in strategic planning, association management, community building, economic development, Chamber programs, fundraising and development, meeting and event planning, consulting, and community retention,” according to the statement.

Thurman pointed to her 30-plus years of experience in “building sustainable relationships with businesses, government, economic development, community leaders and lobbying,” Thurman stated.

Thurman also praised the chamber staff who kept the organization running during the search period.

“On behalf of the search committee leaders who have been working on this multilayer process, we are grateful to Christine Michaels for her leadership and Taneshia Kerr in her role as interim,” Thurman said.

Fiveash said she was anxious to get to work learning as much as she can about the community and how the chamber can play a role in providing the tools for success with local businesses, but especially with small businesses, “especially coming out of COVID,” she said.

“We have businesses of all sizes that can benefit from the programs the chamber provides,” Fiveash said. “A lot of tools that big businesses have are not available to small businesses.”

She pointed to marketing tools that the chamber could help provide that could help small businesses thrive.

She also suggested that Fayetteville has room to improve in the area of keeping young people in the community.

“We don’t want to bleed out,” Fiveash said. “We need to grow out our own to encourage young people to stay.”

Part of that strategy, she said, may include forming a board to support young entrepreneurs.

“There is a ton of opportunity here,” Fiveash said. “Look at the (chamber’s) Board of Directors; there is a lot of experience here. We have a very strong board.”

Fiveash said she hoped that working to build partnerships with the many experienced people in Fayetteville would encourage businesses that may be struggling — especially considering the challenges of the past year.

During her interview with the Business Journal, Fiveash returned many times to the ideas of building partnerships and supporting local businesses. Likewise, those themes were a strong part of her introduction at Segra Stadium.

“One of the things I’m looking forward to in the future,” she said before pausing for a moment to continue with “2020 was a year of lemons in my book,” Fiveash said. “I was talking to the team at the chamber, which I have to thank for keeping it intact and keeping it running over the time when they were without their CEO, but they kept it going and that’s really important. 

“I said we’re going to take what we have, which is a bowl of lemons, and we’re going to make lemonade over the next year,” Fiveash said.

She said she was looking forward to working with local businesses — especially small businesses — to take advantage of “lots of programs” to provide support and get small businesses open again.

She suggested that small businesses, as well as larger companies, could use chamber directed programs “that join us all together,” Fiveash said. “So we’re going to grow this community and look for partnerships with the economic development, with the tourism sector, with every facet of this community so we are in partnership together.”

Fiveash has stated that she believes her mission “should be to make the region a better place to live and work. We need to enhance the quality of life in the region by facilitating partnerships among public, private, and corporate citizens by building a foundation of cooperation,” she said.

According to the prepared biographical information, Fiveash has served numerous Chambers across the country including Lexington, Kentucky, Branson, Missouri, Chillicothe, Missouri, and South Windsor, Connecticut, where she also served as the Economic Developer for the Town of South Windsor, holding positions from chief executive officer to executive vice president/chief operating officer, with direct responsibility for a $7 million budget with matching grants program. 

She also provided consulting assistance to an array of municipal and business organizations from the South to the Northeast regions of the United States.

Looking forward, Fiveash said part of the chamber’s job is to help retain and support existing businesses. Much of that is done through networking events that connect business leaders together.

“We are very virtual at this point,” she said, but she said just as soon as the governor relaxed some of the COVID restrictions, the chamber would relaunch its Business Afterhours events and other networking programs.

“There is a momentum that is starting,” Fiveash said. “There are people I have talked to who are anxious to move this chamber forward.”

She and her husband Randy, within their blended family, have five children, spread from California to New Jersey and points in between, and two granddaughters.

State sees new high for daily coronavirus cases

On Sunday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced that the state has confirmed 273,659 cases of COVID-19 including 4,370 cases identified on Christmas Day.

The Sunday report set a new record statewide for daily coronavirus cases; previously, the high was 3,648 new cases set on Dec. 18.

File

Business and government leaders from Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties are trying to plan for how to reopen the local economy during the coronavirus pandemic. Here, construction workers from The Jasper apartment building site gather around a food trucks at lunchtime.

In Berkeley County, 8,827 cases have been confirmed with 110 of those resulting in death through Friday night.

To date 100,297 tests have been administered.

According to DHEC data obtained by the Berkeley Independent, the period between July 1 and Aug. 1 saw the most new cases of the coronavirus. Numbers dropped significantly through Oct. 1 to a low of just seven new cases. The number of new confirmed cases has slowly increased since then topping out again on Dec. 11 with 74 new cases. On Christmas Day, the last day for which data is available, 69 new cases were confirmed.

“As of December 25, 2020, 88.8 percent of those 164,401 individuals [across the state] for which we have symptom onset data are estimated to have recovered from COVID-19, and 11.2 percent are estimated to remain ill,” the report stated.

Next door in Dorchester County, 108,717 tests have been administered with 7,958 cases confirmed and 252 cases required hospitalization. A total 125 people have died from the virus in Dorchester County.

Christmas Eve in Dorchester County set a record of 107 confirmed cases. The previous single-day high was July 13. Since Sept. 19, when Dorchester County saw just 13 new cases, the number has seen a steady increase through the Christmas Eve high.

The top South Carolina counties for new coronavirus cases reported Sunday were Greenville, 897; Spartanburg, 412; and Lexington, 308.

DHEC officials said that its first allocation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived Dec. 14-16, which included 42,900 doses.

“Health care facilities received allocations directly from the federal government and have begun vaccinating their front-line medical workers in accordance with phase 1a vaccination guidance,” according to a prepared statement sent to media outlets. “The state is expected to receive between 200,000 to 300,000 doses by the end of the year, however, those amounts are subject to change.”

DEHEC and federal government sources both said the goal is to have enough COVID-19 vaccine for all people who wish to be vaccinated. However, in the initial stages of the national COVID-19 Vaccination Program, there is limited supply of the vaccine.

EDITOR'S NOTES: Where will the holidays find you?

This column was originally published in the Oct. 9, 2019 edition of the Journal Scene.

The holiday travel season is coming up, which — if you’re anything like me — means you’re probably watching gas prices carefully and wondering if the tires you bought five years ago are still under warranty.

In the 30-plus years we’ve been married, my wife and I have made our fair share of road trips in all kinds of weather and in all kinds of vehicles.

During that time I’ve developed several systems to ensure a safe arrival.

David B. Kennard

twitter.com/davidbkennard

The first is what I like to call “The Three Ds of Long-distance Driving: Ding Dongs, Doritos and Dr. Pepper.” Those three staples are good for — at most — a 15-hour drive through the high plains of Nevada and over the Blue Mountains of Oregon and Washington. Anything longer and you’re going to need to stop at a Taco Bell for some real food.

Suesan and I married during our last year of college, which meant several trips home to Seattle in her very sporty Toyota Corolla. We’d leave about sunset and drive through the night so we could catch the sunrise over the Columbia River Gorge.

OK, really, we’d leave at sunset so that we didn’t have to drive across the Utah, Nevada and Oregon desert during daylight hours. Inevitably, though, that meant navigating snow-covered roads through the Blue Mountains in a rear-wheel drive pseudo sports car.

On one such trip, as I tried to sleep off my Dorito and Dr. Pepper hangover, I woke up to the car doing circles in the middle of the highway. Like a champ, Suesan pulled out of the spin and landed us safely in a snowbank on the side of the road; the side of the road just over the bridge from the icy depths of the Grande Ronde River.

A few years and four children later, found us in a Dodge Ram van, this time on a trip to the Grand Canyon, and then on to Mesa, Arizona.

We were approaching Flagstaff when we passed a fellow pushing his disabled cross-country touring bicycle along the side of the road — in the middle of nowhere.

“I’m stopping,” I said.

The glaring look I got from my wife told me she wasn’t on board with my decision, but we were driving a 15-year-old Dodge van full of kids and camping gear across the Navajo Indian reservation and we needed the karma.

I strapped his bike to the top of the van and off we went.

As our children grew, so did our travel vehicles. Van number two was a full-size Chevy conversion van that fit our three sons — all 6-foot plus — and shrimpy daughter — 5 foot 8 inches — nicely.

That van, which also pulled a pop-up trailer to many, many destinations, made traveling far more comfortable than that old Toyota Corolla, plus it held a much bigger cooler. Bigger cooler, more Dr. Pepper and more Ding Dongs

Now that we’re mostly empty-nesters, my wife and I have traded our huge vehicles in for much more economical models. Between her little SUV and my motorcycle, we get where we need to go — mostly local trips that don’t require Doritos, Dr. Pepper or Ding Dongs.

But with the holidays approaching and our children scattered all across the country, I’m sure we’ll be back on the road again soon.

David Kennard is the executive editor of Summerville Communications.

EDITOR'S NOTES: This place we call home

By David Kennard

Note: This column was originally published in current edition of Lowcountry Best Times, a magazine that circulates throughout the Lowcountry.

As Lowcountry residents, we’re all here for a reason, and most of us have done our best to make this our home. In fact it’s been that way for hundreds of years.

David B. Kennard

twitter.com/davidbkennard

I know this because of a project I started a year or so ago.

What began as kind of a curious hobby has now turned into a near obsession — that’s what my wife and kids tell me, anyway.

Not far from where I live off Dorchester Road in Summerville, there is a cemetery with a historical marker out front.

The metal sign in front of the Old White Meeting House and Cemetery is one of more than 200 similar markers in Dorchester and Berkeley counties.

You’ve seen them, I’m sure, as you travel along the roads and highways around the area.

There is one on North Main Street near the Earth Fare Supermarket in Summerville that records an abbreviated history of Berkeley County. There’s another one in Moncks Corner right in the median across from the Huddle House at Live Oak Drive and Highway 52. Another one sits on the corner in front of Advance Auto Parts on St. James Avenue and talks about the subdivision of plantations after the Civil War.

Others are scattered in much more obscure places throughout the region.

If you’re up for an afternoon drive, you’ll find a collection of them in north Berkeley County a few miles west of Pineville in the Lowcountry between lakes Moultrie and Marion, the last of which, incidentally, is named for Gen. Francis Marion, also known as the Swamp Fox.

Journal Scene Editor David Kennard takes a picture

of a historical marker in Berkeley County.

Marion is buried in the family cemetery at the former Belle Isle Plantation, owned by Gabrial Marion, brother to Francis. You may recall the film “The Patriot,” in which Mel Gibson portrays a character loosely based on Francis Marion.

At the end of the film there is a scene showing the reconstruction of Marion’s home. Known as Pond Bluff, Marion’s small plantation is now at the bottom of Lake Marion.

It is connections like these that begin to unfold on these little glimpses into the past.

Like you, I never paid much attention to these markers, in fact it was three years after moving here that I first stopped to read the marker at the cemetery near my home. I must have passed it hundreds of times.

When I did finally stop, I snapped a picture with my camera phone. And so began my obsession. I now have a pictorial collection of most of the historical markers in our area.

After a little while, I started posting the pictures, along with some details. You can find my Google map at http://bit.ly/2X85uKK.

My search for historical perspective taught me about Huguenots and Congregationalists. I learned about Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, and Chickasaws, and a group of fellows known as the Goose Creek Men.

A lot has changed since the first residents moved out of the swamps, but like the people that came before us, we now call this place our home.

Editor's Notes: Things I learned from having a heart attack

By David Kennard, dkennard@journalscene.com


Originally Published May 8, 2019 in the Summerville Journal Scene


I would be remiss if I let another day go by without giving thanks to the many people who sent well wishes, kind thoughts and prayers my way during the last couple of weeks.

Two weeks ago Thursday my wife forced me into the car and drove me to the hospital when I told her I was having some chest and arm pain.

Turns out I was having a heart attack.

Huh. Who knew? Certainly not me.

David B. Kennard

twitter.com/davidbkennard

I mean I’m not the healthiest person around, but heck, I just ran a 5K a few weeks ago. OK, I use the term “ran” loosely, but still I finished in the top 10 in my age class.

And my last physical showed no signs of anything serious.

The doctor told me to add some regular exercise to my routine and lay off the Girl Scout Cookies.

So I did, sort of. I cut out the Thin Mints (but not the Samoas — I mean that would be ridiculous). Beyond that I went back to my regular routine of strawberry Pop Tarts for breakfast and several Cherry Pepsis (five or six) throughout the day.

Fun tip: As the father of four children, I’ve learned that there are two things that will bump you to the front of the line in the ER.

First, mention you’re having contractions;

Second, talk about your chest pain.

Granted, I’ve always been with a very pregnant wife when I’ve used the first tip, but Tip No. 2 came in handy during my most recent visit.

Many years ago when I was a young kid working toward his Eagle Scout rank, one of the things I learned was the signs of a heart attack.

Now, years later and serving as a scoutmaster of a local troop, I now know why Boy Scouts spend so much time learning how to recognize a heart attack.

Here’s the thing, I kind of thought something was up when I was in a staff meeting and I felt a little off — indigestion and some weird numbness in my arm. It went away after a while so I forgot about it.

A couple of days later it happened again so I sent a text off to my wife, who happened to be with a good friend — an ER nurse. She fired back, “Take some Asprin and call 911. I’ll meet you at the hospital.”

Right, like I was going to just leave work in the middle of the day.

After arriving at the hospital a little while later, I discovered I had a blood sugar rating of 500 mg/dL and my triponin levels were signaling heart attack.

In case you’re wondering, a healthy blood sugar rating is between 70 and 120, and finding triponin enzymes in your blood means your heart is screaming for help.

I cannot say enough about the nurses and doctors who jumped into action to ensure that no damage came to my heart.

I also can’t say enough about the Trident cafeteria staffer who refused to sell me a bag of Fritos without my nurse’s permission. They train them well.

Since my hospital visit, I’ve learned a handful of things.

Nurses are awesome. There is not room in this newspaper to sing their praises. Their dedication to their job and helping their patients is beyond criticism.

I certainly saw no one on the nursing staff playing cards.

Hospital food really isn’t that bad. I mean scrambled eggs and sausage for breakfast. I’ve eaten worse than that — OK a lot worse than that — on Boy Scout over-nighters.

Beyond the incessant finger pricks and blood pressure tests in the middle of the night, the worst part of my whole ordeal has been giving up Cherry Pepsi. Did I mention I drank a lot of Cherry Pepsi?

A trip to the hospital is one way to get out of a pressing deadline, but it certainly is no vacation.

And, despite bringing my laptop to the hospital to sneak some work in, it was difficult to type with an IV in my arm, a finger monitor clamped to my index finger and sore fingertips from all the blood sugar testing.

Probably the most valuable lesson I learned (and don’t tell my wife I said this) is to listen to my wife. I was perfectly willing to crack open another Cherry Pepsi and brush off the incident as indigestion.

Turns out that would have been a mistake. My wife earned her Eagle Scout rank that day.

David Kennard is the executive editor of Summerville Communications, which publishes the Berkeley Independent, Goose Creek Gazette and Summerville Journal Scene. Contact him at dkennard@journalscene.com or 843-873-9424. Follow him on Twitter @davidbkennard.

EDITOR'S NOTES: Resolve to be a good driver in 2019

Crossing Main Street in downtown Summerville is a little like walking across an alligator swamp dripping in steak sauce.

Sadly, I’m afraid to report, Summerville is not alone in this state. According to several recent reports, South Carolina has among the worst drivers in the country.

The website carinsurancecomparison.com ranks South Carolina as having the second worst drivers in the country.

Alaska occupies the number one position for having the worst drivers in the U.S., according to the annual study.

David B. Kennard
twitter.com/davidbkennard

But among the lower 48, our state leads the way, followed by New Mexico, Louisiana, North Carolina and Nevada rounding out the five worst states for driving.

Another study by smartasset.com ranks South Carolina just out of the bottom 10, thanks to our miserable drunken driving habits. According to the study released in November, 4.34 drivers out of 1,000 were arrested on DUI charges. Mississippi took the number one spot for having the worst drivers in that nation.

And, according to the weekly reports that I get from the SC Department of Public Safety, things are not trending any better.

“As of December 30, 989 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 988 highway deaths during the same time period in 2017,” the most recent report states.

Those fatalities include 150 pedestrians, according to state officials. Counting just the motor vehicle occupants who died in 2018, 348 were not wearing seat belts.

Neighboring Dorchester County, saw an increase in traffic fatalities over last year, but trended down over the last four years: 2015: 33; 2016: 30; 2017: 15; 2018: 21.

Berkeley County saw a similar trend despite having more fatalities: 2015:35, 2016:36; 2017:34; 2018:34.

Truth be told, my daughter asked me to write this column. She drives from Summerville to Mt. Pleasant everyday for work, so she frequently witnesses some of the most deplorable driving our region has to offer.

“Dad, you should write about how bad drivers are,” I think were her exact words.

I am certain that, like her, you have seen plenty of knuckleheads on our local roads.

Consequently, I’ve developed a list of reminders to help us all do our part to make our roads safe.

First: Buckle up. It takes only seconds and it saves lives. See stats above.

Second: Use your flipping mirrors. For everything that you consider holy, use your mirrors.

As many of you know, I commute to work and back on a motorcycle. Don’t tell my wife, but I’ve had quite a few near misses thanks to idiots who don’t look. Granted, motorcycles are invisible, but still, come on people: use your mirrors.

Third: Use your mirrors, did I mention that?

Fourth: If you have the right of way, take it. If you don’t, don’t. I know we live in the South and people are a little more cordial here; it’s something we Southerners pride ourselves on, but I refuse to break the right-of-way rule just because you’re waving me through. Stop holding up traffic just to be kind to me. I’d rather wait and live than gamble on your kindness and get t-boned by the garbage truck I can’t see because you’re blocking my view, just go. Go, for heaven’s sake. Just go.

That said, fifth: Stop at stop signs. I know, right? Stop means stop.

Sixth: Stop at red lights — even when you’re turning right.

Seventh: Stop for pedestrians. Really this should be first. We keep talking about making our town a walkable town, where you get the things you need by taking a short walk. Well, that’s kind of hard to do when you are dead.

Please, when you see someone in a crosswalk, display some of that Southern charm and let them cross. This includes crosswalks at Walmart and other shopping centers. Yes, you might miss that open spot and have to park another 50 feet away, but we can all probably use the exercise.

Next, obey the speed limit.

Let me qualify that, Obey the speed limit on Bacons Bridge Road, when I am driving my motorcycle at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. every weekday. I know, it’s hard to figure out; some places it’s 35 miles per hour, then it switches to 45 miles per hour, but it’s never 55 miles per hour or higher. Slow it down.

Note to Summerville police, you didn’t hear it from me, but did you know that people regularly drive 55 or more in the 35/45 miles per hour zone on Bacons Bridge.

Addendum to Summerville Police note above: Motorcyclists wearing black helmets and driving black motorcycles never break the speed limit on Bacons Bridge Road at 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. every weekday, so you can just ignore them.

What are we up to eighth, ninth? When it’s raining, which it does from time to time around here, turn your lights on — not your hazard lights. Like we don’t know it’s raining.

It’s illegal in many states — although not specifically addressed in South Carolina laws — to drive in the rain with your hazards on.

Here is what AAA says about SC hazard light rules: “Hazard lights may be used while driving for the purpose of warning the operators of other vehicles of the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring the exercise of unusual care in approaching, overtaking or passing.

Save your hazards for when you’re hauling that trailer that doesn’t have working tail lights.

In the rain, though, it’s distracting and causes other drivers to break suddenly, and it prevents you from letting other drivers know when you are making a lane change.

Finally: I mentioned the mirrors thing, right?

Look, our county is booming and we’ve got more people moving here every day. Many of them are bringing their ridiculous driving habits with them — I’m talking to you Ohio.

Please do your part to set the example. And in the words of Sgt. Phil Esterhaus, “Let’s be careful out there.”

We’ve got a whole year to improve some of those statistics.

EDITOR'S NOTES: Letter writers a key part of community newspaper

Newspapers, like grocery stores offer many things to many consumers. But most newspapers — this one included — have three main parts: news, advertising and opinion or commentary.

News content is written by reporters.

Advertising is content paid for by businesses or other private parties — advertisers who pay to have their message printed in the form of ads.

David Kennard
Twitter @davidbkennard.

Opinion or commentary comes from a variety of places, but is limited to this page.

Many of the opinions found here come in the form of letters to the editor, which provide readers an opportunity to express an opinion. We published almost every letter we receive.

Below is a list of writers who submitted letters in 2018:

Adriaan Kwist, Alex Posadas, Amanda Ebel, Ben Hough, Beverly Cleary, Bo Blanton, Bob Mongillo, Bob Orenstein, Brandi Graham, Brooks P. Moore, Carmen Klapperich, Charles Billings, Charles E. Shuster, Charlie Templeton, Cheryl Cargill, Christye Jefferson, Daniel Rogers, Danielle Hostler, Darlene Mulhern, Denise H. Creed, Dennis Ashley, Diane C. Frankenberger, Doc Ardrey, Dodie Altman, Don Bailey, Edward B. Hernandez, Edward Stank, Frank Bouknight, Frank Freeman, Gary Fabian, Gary Lukridge, CEO, George McDaniel, Gerard E. Ziegler, Gigi Adams, Gigi Uluc, Heather Cong, J.J. Messervy, James Hill, James Myers, James Sims, Jamie Lopez, Jan Freeman, Jean Woods, Jerry Brittsan, Jim Bailey, Joan Holloman Brown, JoDee Robinson, Joe Cali, Joe Meehan, John Adel, John Drawdy, John Mott, John Nicholas Hayes, Joseph Meehan, Josuan Baughman, Keith Timmons, Kevin Weathers, Kim Smith, Larel Morris, Larry Hargett, Linda Ensor, Linda Shelbourne, Lou Spatholt, Lynn Finucan, Lynn Greer, Maia Emery, Marilyn Iverson, Mark Fuller, Mark Pilgrim, Marrie Dingle, Marty Thomas, Marvin McKie, Mary Ann Bridgman, Michael DiDato, Noah Riley, Paul Vecellio, Pauline Collier, Pete Hautem, Peter Gorman, Preston Giet, Renay Marsh, Richard Richardson, Rick Crawford, Rick Dawson, Robert Iannace Jr., Robert Pratt, Robin Dudley, Robyn Wittenberg Dudley, Roger Brown, Ron Collier, Ron McGuire, S.M. Salmon, Sallie Ramos, Sam Clark, Samuel Daniel, Sarah Redmond, Selina Hathaway, Sherri Bardsley, Shirley Hunter, Stan Iverson, Steven Hawkins, Sue George, Sue Morse, Susan Mock, Suzanne Brown, Terry Jenkins, Tim Higgins, Tonia Nottingham, Torie Clark, Tr Moore, Tricia Melton, Wesley Donehue.

As the editor in “letters to the editor,” I look forward to reading another year’s worth of letters.

David Kennard is the executive editor of the Berkeley Independent. Contact him at dkennard@journalscene.com or 843-873-9424. Follow him on Twitter @davidbkennard.