Best Window Repair in Summerville, SC

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — All seven seats on the Dorchester District Two (DD2) school board are open this November and five candidates, vying for three of those seats, participated in a forum Wednesday night hosted by the South Carolina PTA in Summerville.

2024 is the first year DD2’s school board will be split into single-member districts rather than seven board members at large. Of the seven open seats, four have unopposed races and the other three have active contests.

Cynthia Powell, an incumbent hoping to secure District 5, said her nearly 40 years of teaching experience translates to her time on the board.

“Education is not a job, it is a calling,” Powell said. “I never really wanted to leave DD2 once I came here. I’m a graduate of Summerville High, I wanted to make sure I invested what I had learned in the classroom on the board.”

READ MORE | "Dorchester District Two hosts Fall Recruitment Fair, offers hiring incentives"

When asked about the biggest issue currently facing Dorchester District Two schools, Jim Lee, running for the District 7 seat, pointed to community involvement.

“The challenge that we have today in our culture is a disconnectedness. The community is not connected to one another, neighborhoods are not connected to one another,” Lee, a grandfather of three DD2 students, said.

His opponent, Patrick Davidson, said the district’s shortcomings are a result of money. He made sure to include the fact that DD2 is the third lowest funded school district in South Carolina.

“A lot of our large industry is in the Western part of Dorchester County,” Davidson said, leaning on his experience in accounting.

“Our big companies have plenty of real estate up there in St. George and Harleyville to put big, massive industry, where we don’t really have room for it here,” he explained.

On the topic of book banning, candidates differed on whether it’s truly a problem facing local classrooms.

Justin Farnsworth, a member of the board since 2014, said while parents have the right to question material, there’s due process to be followed before any book is removed.

“What we see too often is one parent that thinks they should determine what my child should be able to see, read and do. That’s not okay,” Farnsworth said.

READ MORE | "South Carolina Board of Education advances regulations for book challenges"

His District 1 challenger, Eric Unger, claimed that the school district’s process is failing. Unger, whose children attend DD2 schools, pointed to more than 150 books he agreed should be pulled.

“There should be a process but the one we have right now is very honoris,” he said. “It didn’t keep them from getting in, so we need to look how these books are getting in, and we need to discern to put positive books in our libraries.”

Early voting in Dorchester County runs through Nov. 2 and Election Day is Nov. 5.

2024 Dorchester District Two school board candidates:

District 1:

Justin Farnsworth (incumbent)

Sabrina Ferguson Edwards

Eric Unger

District 2:

Bethanny King

District 3:

Kellie Bates (incumbent)

District 4:

Evan Guthrie (incumbent)

District 5:

Cynthia Powell (incumbent)

Glenn A. Zingarino

District 6:

Ashley Wimberly (incumbent)

District 7:

Patrick Davidson

Jim Lee

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — A Summerville man became the first person in South Carolina to undergo potentially life-changing gene therapy.

The treatment took place Thursday morning at Prisma Health’s Hemophilia Treatment Center in Columbia.

Thirty-eight-year-old Brent Maloy was diagnosed with the rare bleeding disorder Hemophilia B as a baby — a condition that’s negatively affected him his entire life.

“It’s been just a constant thing I had to deal with,” he says.

The genetic condition means Brent is missing crucial proteins that helps the blood to clot, (sometimes referred to as Factor Nine proteins) causing normal activities to become potentially dangerous.

Dr. Stephanie Ambrose says for most patients that means constantly hooking themselves up to an IV at home.

“They typically are having to infuse themselves sometimes all the way up to several times a week to several times a month. And they are prone to having significant issues with bleeding, joint bleeds, muscle bleeds, nose bleeds, things of that nature,” she says.

But those at-home intravenous treatments may soon end for Brent. He’s being given a medicine that’s only been on the market for two years now, known as Hemgenix.

Total cost of Hemgenix before insurance is $3.5 million.

If successful, Dr. Ambrose and Nurse Robin Jones say the “one and done” treatment will raise the needed Factor Nine proteins in Brent’s liver, allowing his blood to clot naturally throughout his body.

The best part? The effects may last for the rest of Brent’s life.

“As for changing my life, if everything works well, it means I can finally live my life like a normal person and not have to take any more injections, unless I have to get vaccines!” he jokes.

Dr. Ambrose says those at-home IV treatments add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars, making the hefty price tag of Hemgenix cheaper over a lifetime.

For the next few years, Brent will be closely monitored to determine how successful the treatment is.

“So our hope for this therapy is if we can get his Factor Nine levels to a more sustainable level, to where he’s not having to give himself IV medications, then day to day life will look much better. He’ll be much better protected against bleeding episodes, and for many patients their quality of life will improve because they can be much more active than they’ve been in the past,” says Dr. Ambrose.

Prisma Health’s Hemophilia Treatment Center is the only center in the state that is currently federally approved to offer Hemgenix.

Summerville, South Carolina’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Biosolids Solar Dryer, one of only three of its kind in the Southeast, is an innovation in waste management. The Summerville Commissioners of Public Works (SCPW) recently made significant upgrades to the town’s wastewater treatment plant to enhance its efficiency, sustainability, and reliability. Partnering with Harper and KCI Technologies (KCI), SCPW introduced innovative solutions such as revitalized digesters, additional belt presses, and a cutting-edge solar dryer to its treatment systems. These improvements modernize the facility’s biosolids management, reduce landfill disposal costs, and serve the community’s needs. Through close collaboration and innovation, the project team used advanced construction technologies and early coordination to keep everything on track.

Using Technology to Drive Schedule

SCPW owns and operates the wastewater treatment plant, which serves the Town of Summerville and portions of the surrounding area in the Lowcountry region of the state. Recognizing the need to enhance the plant’s dewatering capacity, SCPW partnered with Harper and KCI Technologies to design and provide improvements, including new digester equipment, belt presses, and a solar dryer building.

Previously, SCPW relied on a single belt press to dewater sludge before disposal in landfills, which led to increased costs due to stricter sludge acceptance criteria and rising landfill rates. By providing these enhancements, SCPW planned to improve the biosolids management system at the plant. The new solar drying process, which takes between 2 and 6 weeks, achieves up to 75% solids dryness, depending on the season, making the new system more efficient and sustainable.

When Harper was brought onto this project, we were undergoing tension from the supply chain delays seen across the country during this time. Our team quickly recognized that we could utilize our internal resources to keep us on schedule. In addition, our team was concerned about the long lead times for equipment when choosing manufacturers. Harper advised SCPW to select a manufacturer with shorter lead times, which would be more cost-effective in the long run. The early involvement of Harper in this project allowed the finalization of underground piping routes and early equipment release. Due to high prices and the heavy weight of the large machinery, the team faced a critical decision: accept a delay in the schedule or proceed with building installation and install the belt presses later.

By leveraging early coordination of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Harper evaluated the situation, ensuring that the equipment would fit by reviewing the drawings and assessing the model. This confirmed that the belt presses could be installed post-construction without issues, which allowed us to maintain the project schedule.

Another way we incorporated construction technology into our approach was by meeting the challenge of concrete slab-on-grade tolerances, which had to be extremely flat to allow for sludge churning by an electric mole. This challenge was met by selecting a qualified concrete contractor that would utilize a laser screen that can actively float the concrete out at a consistent elevation. Harper then used two separate technologies to confirm the slab’s compliance. First, we used our surveying equipment to collect elevation shots in a grid pattern across the slab. Next, we employed our in-house laser scanner to gather data on every square inch of the slab. Continuous communication and coordination with subcontractors ensured a smooth slab pour process.

By using solar energy to dry biosolids, SCPW has saved costs for its customers and provided an environmentally responsible solution. With improved dewatering capacity, more sludge is processed efficiently, reducing the need for costly and frequent disposals. This advancement not only lowers operational expenses but also promotes a cleaner, healthier environment for Summerville. Overall, the collaborative efforts and innovative use of technology have not only improved the plant’s performance but also set a benchmark for future wastewater projects in South Carolina.

About Harper: Throughout Harper’s seven-decade history, we have had the opportunity to develop strong professional relationships with clients across the Carolinas. By bringing to life the vision of our clients, Harper leaves a lasting impression on members of the community. The core of the company is geared toward collaborating with clients and design professionals in an open and transparent manner, enabling the client to know how every project dollar is being invested. An award-winning company, Harper consistently receives recognition in the areas of quality, safety, environmental stewardship, and community involvement. For more information, visit harpergc.com.

Topics: Projects Harper General Contractors