Personal Injury Attorney in Rock Hill, SC

A FEMA claims center to assist York County residents with Helene storm damage opened Thursday in downtown Rock Hill.

The center is located at the York County Library main branch at 138 East Black St. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Monday through Wednesday of next week. Friday and Saturday hours are 9:30 to 6 p.m. The center will be closed Sunday.

No appointment is necessary.

York County residents became eligible for individual assistance to homeowners and renters Oct. 7, after the Sept. 27 storm caused millions in property damage.

About 3,800 people in York County have already applied for help online. The county ‘s population is almost 300,000 people.

More than $1.4 million in grants have been approved for York County residents for home repairs, temporary lodging and other uninsured losses, said Hannah Kirschman, FEMA media relations specialist.

The in-person site gives people an opportunity to talk to FEMA intake workers and determine if their damage meets federal guidelines for help, York County officials said Thursday morning.

FEMA said people must have certain information when applying.

The information includes a current phone number, address at the time of the disaster and the address where you are now staying if displaced. People should also bring a general list of damage and losses, Social Security Number, and banking and insurance information.

People can apply in-person, online or by phone.

▪ Online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov.

▪ You can also apply using the FEMA App for mobile devices or calling 800-621-3362.

FEMA has also set up a web site to dispel rumors about benefits. To see what FEMA says is correct or false, visit https://www.fema.gov/disaster/recover/rumor/hurricane-rumor-response.

A New York company that pledged more than 400 jobs as part of a $443 million investment in Rock Hill isn’t planning to move here after all.

One reason cited for the abrupt move was “market conditions,” according to a York County economic developer.

Mayor John Gettys confirmed to The Herald Wednesday afternoon that the deal with silicon carbide manufacturer Pallidus was dead. The city got a call from the company last week about it, he said.

“They’re not coming,” he said. “That’s all I know.”

Early last year, Pallidus negotiated a deal with York County to relocate in exchange for economic incentives. The company would create jobs with a $443 million investment, creating silicon carbide wafers used in semiconductor manufacturing. Pallidus would put its headquarters at a 300,000-square-foot facility on Overlook Drive in the Waterford area of Rock Hill.

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Pallidus did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon. The company launched in 2015 and works in the transportation, green energy and telecommunications markets.

The plan generated a lot of excitement from York County and Rock Hill officials after it was announced last year. This comment, from county Council Chair Chairwoman Christi Cox was typical: “It opens up some tremendous opportunities for the county,” Cox said.

But on Wednesday, those sentiments had changed.

York County Economic Development released a statement from interim director Mitch Miller. “It’s unfortunate that Pallidus has had to make these tough adjustments due to market conditions,” Miller said. “We remain optimistic about the future of our sites and our community.”

York County spokesman Greg Suskin also confirmed the project isn’t happening.

The call last week wasn’t a big surprise, Gettys said, since little had been done with the site since last year’s announcement. The mayor had remained hopeful, though, that Pallidus would still come through with its plans.

Inventory for large commerce sites is somewhat limited in the city, Gettys said, so the loss of Pallidus could be an opportunity for someone else.

“We’re always looking and talking to businesses that want to bring good and high paying jobs in Rock Hill,” he said. “It gives us a little more inventory.”

The city issued a statement on the Pallidus deal falling through, noting transportation and utility infrastructure in the area is primed for business growth. “We’re looking toward future recruitment efforts for the Waterford site and others,” it said.

The Charlotte Business Journal first reported about the Pallidus decision Wednesday.

This is a developing story. Check back for more.

This story was originally published October 30, 2024, 3:52 PM.

Clinton College President Lester McCorn is leaving that role after seven years in charge of the Rock Hill region’s only historically Black college, the college announced Tuesday.

Augusta, Georgia-based Paine College announced McCorn will take over as president of that school starting Jan. 1. Paine is a private, historically Black Methodist school.

It was not immediately clear when McCorn’s resignation would take effect.

Archinya Ingram has been named interim president at Clinton College, transitioning from senior vice president of business services and chief financial officer roles there. Ingram has been with the school for two decades.

The search for a new president is expected to take four to six months, according to the school.

Bishop Eric Leake, board chairman for the school, offered appreciation for McCorn’s leadership that made significant changes at the school. Clinton has grown its facilities, sports and extracurricular opportunities during McCorn’s tenure. Clinton also added a new advanced digital library and five new bachelor’s degree programs.

“His commitment to academic innovation and student success has been instrumental in shaping the institution’s trajectory,” Leake said in announcing McCorn’s departure.

The college was founded in 1894 and named after Bishop Isom Caleb Clinton, the great-great-grandfather of funk icon George Clinton.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame musician accepted an honorary doctorate degree from Clinton in May. “Your music became the summons to the dance floor for every event that allowed Black folk to be free to express themselves,” McCorn told Clinton at the time.

Clinton College has about 150 students. It offers degrees in fields like nursing, cybersecurity, elementary education, religious studies and business management.

“My priority is to ensure our students, faculty and staff experience a seamless transition as we move forward together,” Ingram said.

Virtual and in-person stakeholder forums will be scheduled throughout the presidential search process. McCorn came to Clinton College as its 13th president.

This story was originally published October 29, 2024, 2:39 PM.

The Herald

803-329-4076

John Marks graduated from Furman University in 2004 and joined the Herald in 2005. He covers community growth, municipalities, transportation and education mainly in York County and Lancaster County. The Fort Mill native earned dozens of South Carolina Press Association awards and multiple McClatchy President’s Awards for news coverage in Fort Mill and Lake Wylie.

Lancaster County won’t get a new transportation tax, while voters laid a clear path for a new Pennies for Progress campaign in York County.

Almost 53% of Lancaster County voters opted not to start a new road tax. That’s with all precincts reporting. Results aren’t officials until they’re certified later this week.

It would have been a one-cent sales tax that could’ve lasted up to 15 years. It was expected to generate $405 million.

Pennies for Progress is a one-cent sales tax to fund road work in York County. It received more than 71% support with all precincts reporting.

It began in 1997 as the first of its kind in the state. Now dozens of counties have similar sales tax programs. Campaigns run seven years in York County. Tuesday’s vote was the fifth Pennies referendum, to continue the tax when the 2017 program expires next spring.

The record $410.7 million campaign Tuesday included $225 million for projects that appeared on prior referendum ballots. They weren’t completed due to soaring projects costs from post-COVID inflation, Pennies manager Patrick Hamilton said prior to Election Day.

Some of the biggest road jobs that hinged on Tuesday’s vote are five-lane widening of U.S. 21 from S.C. 160 to Carowinds Boulevard in Fort Mill, and of Fort Mill Parkway near Interstate 77.

The most expensive new project on the ballot was a $44.9 million widening of U.S. 21 from S.C. 160 to Sutton Road.

Since the first Pennies vote narrowly passed in 1997 with 51% support, no campaign got less than 73% approval coming into Tuesday’s election. York County voters cast more than 61,000 votes combined in the prior four programs, with 70% of those votes opting for the sales tax.

Tuesday’s campaign was, however, the first Pennies vote held in a presidential election or an even year.

Unlike Pennies, the Lancaster County transportation tax on Tuesday’s ballot was a first-time effort.

The county asked voters for the transportation tax largely as a way to create a funding source for improvements on U.S. 21, or Charlotte Highway. A list of road jobs the county expects to complete is heavy with road widening, especially in Indian Land. It puts $165 million to major road widening like U.S. 521.

A second question asked voters whether the county could borrow up to $250 million against the tax to get the road jobs started quicker. The tax would pay back bond money issued by the county in a deal that would front money to road jobs before its collected through the sales tax.

That second question was, of course, dependent on the transportation tax passing.

The more than 105,000 early and absentee votes is 53% of the registered voters in York County. Lancaster County had more than 38,000 pre-election day votes, 54% of its registered voters.

This story was originally published November 5, 2024, 8:19 PM.

ROCK HILL, S.C. — The girls’ lacrosse team at Legion Collegiate Academy in Rock Hill was suspended months before the season started because they couldn’t find a coach, officials said.

High school women’s lacrosse players take part in nationwide showcase

“It’s disheartening,” said Nadege Baron, a parent of one of the team’s players. “We feel disrespected and not heard.”

The college’s athletic director said in a statement, in part, “After careful and extensive evaluation, we were unable to identify a coaching candidate who aligns with the mission of Legion Collegiate Academy.”

Barron said the team hasn’t had a consistent coach over the past two seasons. However, she thought the team would have a new coach this year.

“We actually had a meeting at the start of the year saying we’re going to have somebody,” Baron said. “We just need to go through some red tape, but we’re going to have somebody.”

Baron said she doesn’t believe the school couldn’t find qualified candidates.

“I just feel like they had this in mind to shut down the program and they weren’t being truthful and honest with us,” the parent said.

In a letter to parents, the athletic director for the charter school said the girls could play at their home-zoned school while still attending Legion.

That is not an option for some girls because their zoned schools don’t offer girls’ lacrosse.

“They’re not taking it seriously,” Baron said. “They’re not taking us seriously. There are 26 girls that are committed to be a part of the lacrosse program for girls and they’re just turning a blind eye to the whole program.”

In that statement, school leaders said they couldn’t share any information about specific coach candidates.

Leaders have also said the program has been suspended for the school year and not canceled.

VIDEO: Former football player, local trainer translates his skills onto lacrosse field

Former football player, local trainer translates his skills onto lacrosse field

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