Personal Injury Attorney in Hampton, SC

For Hampton County over the last four years, since they became their own district, they have seen a nearly 20 percent improvement in English and a three percent increase in math.

HAMPTON COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Plans to turn around the Hampton County School District are starting to pay off.

State test scores showed gains in some key areas like English.

WTOC has a closer look at what the district is doing to make it happen.

The SC Ready Assessments that we have shone a light on before test students in English/Language Arts, Math, and Science.

For Hampton County over the last four years, since they became their own district, they have seen a nearly 20% improvement in English and a slight improvement in math.

Across the state, all schools are trying to have 75% of their students meet or exceed expectations in each of the categories by 2030.

For Hampton County, 57% of their students met or exceeded expectations in ELA, while 38% reached that mark in math.

Those two scores ranked Hampton County fourth and fifth, respectively, across the 32 Lowcountry counties.

Officials say their ELA scores have improved so much over the years because they started giving teachers high-quality instruction materials and taught their teachers how to use them.

They are now starting to use that same model in another subject.

“We’re trying that same model in math now, without letting go of all the new things we have been doing in ELA, balancing that out, but making sure we are still putting that same emphasis in math,” Hampton County School District Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Kristy Wood, said.

The Hampton County School District also says that the addition of two elementary schools could increase its scores.

Ben Hazel and Varnville Elementary schools each added fourth-grade classes this school year and will start receiving SC Ready report cards.

District officials say these schools are two of their higher-performing schools in the county, but they have not been receiving an SC Ready report card because they didn’t have two grade levels that took the test.

“We know the longer they are in a school, the better relationship they have, and more tailored support will be offered to them,” Wood said.

In a report from U.S. News and World Report, those two schools placed in the top 100 schools statewide out of nearly a thousand public schools.

Ben Hazel ranked 57th, and Varnville ranked 86th.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster visited the Lowcountry last week to participate in a ceremonial groundbreaking for a project that developers say will bring at least 125 new jobs to one of the most poor and rural areas of the state.

On Nov. 5, Gov. McMaster, representatives of the SouthernCarolina Alliance (SCA), and other state and local partners joined Hampton Lumber officials as they broke ground on a 375,000-square-foot lumber mill in Fairfax, which is located in Allendale County, not far from Hampton County.

"Congratulations to Allendale County and the wonderful Hampton Lumber team!" announced SCA officials in the economic development alliance's monthly newsletter.

Hampton Lumber, a producer of sustainable building materials, announced June 24 that had selected Allendale County to establish the company's first sawmill on the East Coast.

"Hampton Lumber's new operation in Allendale County will be a notable addition to our state's forestry industry, while also providing opportunities for our people and contributing to the local economy," said Gov. McMaster in a statement. "We are proud the company recognized South Carolina as the ideal home for its first East Coast mill and look forward to supporting its success in our state."

The company's $225 million investment is expected to create at least 125 jobs, officials said in a release at the time, in a S.C. Lowcountry county that is among the lowest-income areas of the state but is one of the richest in terms of timber and agricultural resources.

"The enthusiastic, heartfelt support from the state and local community helped us come to the conclusion that this is the right location for us," said Hampton Lumber CEO Randy Schillinger. "We're happy to join the healthy wood products industry already present in the region, and we look forward to building partnerships in the area and supporting the communities in and around Allendale County. We are extremely grateful to the state of South Carolina, and the county and community partners who helped make this project possible."

Headquartered in Oregon, Hampton Lumber is a fourth-generation, family-owned producer of high-quality wood products sourced from sustainably managed forest resources, states the company release.

Operating nine sawmills in Oregon, Washington and British Columbia, Canada, the company markets and sells building materials worldwide.

Hampton Lumber officials say the company will construct a "state-of-the-art," 375,000-square-foot lumber mill located at Highway 321 and Barker Mill Pond Road in Fairfax. The new operation will specialize in producing quality Southern Yellow Pine framing lumber.

“Allendale County is proud to welcome Hampton Lumber, and we appreciate their investment in our community," said Allendale County Council Chairman Bill Robinson "Each of the 125 jobs created will provide a brighter future for families in our area, and Allendale County looks forward to supporting Hampton Lumber for years to come.”

“SouthernCarolina Alliance salutes Hampton Lumber for choosing Allendale County to establish their first East Coast operation, which will be a great addition to the growing forest product industry in the region," echoed SouthernCarolina Alliance Chairman Marty Sauls. "We appreciate the 125 jobs and investment this operation will bring to the region, as well as the opportunities it will provide in fueling our area’s economy.”

The SCA is the leading economic development agency for several Lowcountry counties, including Allendale County, and works closely with local government officials and industry leaders to attract new companies to our area. Learn more about the SCA on its webpage, https://southerncarolina.org/

Operations are expected to be online in 2027. Individuals interested in joining the Hampton Lumber team can learn more about employment opportunities on the company's careers page.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project, say officials.

Police in the South Carolina Lowcountry are warning the public about a new phone scam involving callers posing as federal law enforcement or court officials and threatening their victims with fake federal warrants.

In a community statement this week, the Hampton County Sheriff’s Office informed the public that scam callers are posing as federal agents or court officials.

The scammers sound very convincing and claim that there is a federal warrant for your arrest for failing to appear in court, stated the HCSO release.

Victims are told they must pay a “bond” of $3,500 immediately to avoid arrest and are instructed to go to a local Walmart or use mobile apps such as Zelle, PayPal, Venmo, or Apple Pay to transfer the funds, said the HCSO.

The scammers even send fraudulent documents, including what appears to be a “United States District Court” warrant and other official-looking paperwork to make the scam seem legitimate, added the release.

"Stay alert and help us spread the word to protect others in our community, said H.C. Sheriff Anthony Russell.

The HCSO is also advising the public that:

• No law enforcement agency or federal court will ever demand payment over the phone or through gift cards, money apps, or retail stores.

• Legitimate warrants are not resolved with payment. They must be handled through proper legal channels.

• Do not send money, share personal information, or scan any barcodes provided by someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer or government official over the phone.

If you receive a call like this, says the HCSO, take the following actions:

• Hang up immediately.

• Do not provide any personal or banking information.

• Contact the HCSO at 803-914-2200 to verify or report the incident.

• You may also report scams to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov.

The Murdaugh house is located on a quiet property with a dark past.

The new Hulu limited series, , which premiered on Oct. 15, chronicles the true story of Alex Murdaugh, a prominent South Carolina lawyer who was accused of killing his wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and their younger son, Paul Murdaugh, in June 2021.

After their bodies were found on the Murdaugh family estate, located in Islandton, S.C., an investigation ensued, and Alex was later convicted of their murders in March 2023. He is currently serving two consecutive life sentences plus 40 years at a maximum-security prison in South Carolina.

Over the past several years, the Murdaugh family's house has continued to be a point of intrigue. Notably, the 4-bed, 4.5-bath home and its 1,770-acre property were sold in March 2023, with personal belongings also auctioned off. But by January 2024, the house was back up for sale, and it was bought a second time in February 2024.

More recently, the home underwent nearly $1 million in renovation and was re-listed in December 2024. Today, it is still looking for a new buyer.

So what happened to the Murdaugh house? Here's everything to know about the events that unfolded after Alex Murdaugh's arrest.

Where is the former Murdaugh family's house?

The Murdaugh estate, also known as "Moselle," is located in Colleton County, at 4147 Moselle Road in Islandton, S.C., according to .

CBS News reported that it was a "custom" home built in 2011. It was originally 5,275 square feet with 4 beds and 4.5 baths. The home was on a 1,770-acre property, featuring other small structures.

How long did the Murdaugh family live in their house?

The Murdaughs lived at the Moselle property from 2012 to 2021.

According to testimony from Alex's older son, Buster Murdaugh, per CNN, the family had previously lived in Hampton, S.C. — about a 20-minute drive from Islandton. Their Hampton house was damaged by a hurricane, so they moved to Moselle.

Buster told the court that most of the expansive property was “really not even accessible” due to the lack of roads. The land was also covered by swamps and ponds, where animals lived, including deer, ducks and hogs.

What does the former Murdaugh property include?

The Murdaugh family property was made up of 1,770 acres.

According to CBS News, the property included the main house, a 1,140-square-foot guest cottage and 2.5 miles of river frontage access.

The land also had multiple sheds, an airplane hangar and "12 run dog kennels" — the site where Maggie and Paul were found dead on June 7, 2021.

Was the Murdaugh family's house sold?

The entire Murdaugh estate was sold in March 2023 for $3.9 million.

James Ayer and Jeffrey Godley bought the property, with proceeds from the sale going to legal fees, Buster and "victims of a 2019 boat crash involving Paul," reported.

In addition, items belonging to the Murdaughs were auctioned off in March 2023. CBS News reported that an "estimated 3,000 people" turned up to purchase from the family's collection.

According to Realtor.com, Ayer and Godley planned to use it for outdoor activities, including hunting and farming. However, they later listed the house and some of the surrounding property in January 2024.

"Both the Ayer and Godley families have land nearby. We bought to expand our hunting, farming and timber," Godley said in a statement, per . "The acreage bought included the home, however, we both already have family homes."

He continued, "I am a next-door neighbor, with our home about a mile from this house. We seek a new neighbor to enjoy this gorgeous house and land.”

A few months later, Alex Blair bought the house and remaining land at auction for $1 million in February 2024, according to Realtor.com. He later gutted parts of the house and made renovations on the property, including demolishing the kennels and airplane hangar.

Blair planned for it to be a second home for his family.

Is the Murdaugh family's house still for sale?

Yes, the Murdaugh house is currently for sale.

After Blair bought the house in February 2024, it was renovated and listed for sale in December 2024 for $2.75 million, according to Realtor.com.

The house was taken off the market in April 2025 and then re-listed in September 2025 with an asking price of $2.2 million, per Zillow. Notably, it now comes with only about 48 acres, opposed to the original 1,770-acre property.

reported that Blair invested about $1 million into renovations, focusing on interior changes like new wood flooring and upgrading a half-bath to a full bath, making the house a 4-bed, 5-bath.

“It does not look like the same house at all on the inside,” real estate broker CJ Brown told the outlet.

A family-owned concrete manufacturing company based in the Lowcountry has acquired another South Carolina concrete company.

Knight’s Redi-Mix, a family-owned company in the concrete manufacturing industry, has acquired Hampton County-based Wiggins Concrete, a two-plant ready mix operation, adding to the established Southern market of Knight’s Redi-Mix, according to a news release

This acquisition expands Knight’s Redi-Mix’s supply footprint into Hampton and Estill, significantly increasing production capacity and enabling Knight’s to serve new residential, commercial and infrastructure projects in Hampton County and the surrounding areas, the release stated. More than a strategic business move, this represents an assembly of family histories and ongoing commitments to the direct and surrounding communities served.

“We’re proud to welcome Wiggins Concrete to the Knight’s Companies family,” said Pete Knight, President and CEO of Knight’s Cos, in the release. “Our shared values of quality, service, and community make this a natural fit. It’s especially meaningful to continue the legacy built by the Wiggins family and my longtime friend, Bob Wiggins.”

Concrete block production served as the starting point for Wiggins Concrete in Estill in the 1950s, according to the release. As the need arose in rural Hampton County, Bob Wiggins’ father and grandfather decided to convert the operation to a ready-mix plant in 1962. Bob joined the family business full-time in 1990 as the third-generation to carry on the tradition, the release stated.

In 1997, the Wiggins family increased their local footprint with the addition of their second Standley batch plant in the nearby Town of Hampton.

“This sale is bittersweet for me,” said Bob Wiggins, Wiggins Concrete, in the release. “As a third-generation owner I’ve had the privilege of carrying on what my father and grandfather built, and I’ll always be grateful to my dad for giving me the chance to take the reins. He believed in me enough to sell me the business, and that opportunity put my feet on the ground – it gave me the means to provide for my family, put my kids through college, and carry forward our family’s tradition of hard work.

“For that, I’ll always be thankful. Now it’s my turn to pass it on – I have known Pete Knight for many years, and I trust that he will do right by the business, by the people, and by the legacy we’ve built.”

Wiggins Concrete has built a reputation for reliability and strong community partnerships over more than five decades. Together, these family-owned businesses bring over 100 years of combined experience to the ready mixed concrete industry.