Criminal Defense Attorney inDaniel Island, SC

With 115 acres of land secured by Berkeley County to make way for a riverfront park, what exactly will the recreational area look like?

The property, known as the North Island Tract, sits along the Cooper River on the island’s northwestern side, nestled behind a row of apartment buildings at the end of Seven Farms Drive. Berkeley County purchased the parcel in June 2024 from the South Carolina Ports Authority for roughly $4 million and immediately earmarked it for conservation.

“The closing on the North Island is complete,” Berkeley County Councilman Jarrod Brooks said. “The county is in the beginning stages of planning and design.”

Brooks, who represents Daniel Island and parts of Goose Creek, said the park will be maintained as a passive riverfront space, highlighting wetlands, wildlife, and "the unique features of the property's waterfront, undisturbed nature, and ponds."

Specific features have not yet been decided, but ideas include walking trails, boardwalks, and a potential pier – amenities that will be shaped by suggestions from county taxpayers.

“Those elements have been discussed in informal conversations leading up to the purchase,” Berkeley County public information officer Jenna-Ley Walls said. “They’ll be worked out through the master planning process, informed by community feedback. Any firm hired to create the park’s master plan will hold public input sessions."

While no formal timeline is in place for public outreach, groundbreaking, or completion, Brooks said he anticipates the park will eventually complement Daniel Island’s existing green spaces. “Daniel Island is blessed with miles of trails, ponds, and recreation facilities,” he said. “The North Island Tract will add to that legacy."

Former Berkeley councilman Josh Whitley, who helped secure the purchase of the land before leaving office in December of 2024, said, “It was incredibly significant that the county’s first acquisition under the Greenbelt program was this property, which was likely to be developed with more rooftops."

The Berkeley County Greenbelt program was commissioned, in part, to identify privately- and publicly-owned land that could be purchased by the county for preservation and conservation.

“Now, it will be a county park indefinitely and eventually accessible to the public at large,” Whitley said.

Greenbelt commissioner Tory Sullivan said scheduling public discussions prior to the park's concept and design is a number one priority and is not being overlooked, noting that Berkeley County leaders advised him that they are first "focusing on acquiring strategic properties (for the Greenbelt program) as quickly as they can to be able to buy them as affordably as they can as prices for real estate keep escalating."

Once the preservation project does get underway, state leaders said it will be worth the wait.

“South Carolina Ports has worked carefully over the years with Berkeley County and the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism to preserve 2.5 miles of shoreline along the Cooper River," said South Carolina Ports Authority interim president Phil Padgett, adding it will be "great to see the county transform this portion of the North Island Tract into accessible greenspace.”

DANIEL ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - The 9/11 Heroes Run will return to Daniel Island Saturday, offering a way for community members to honor those who lost their lives during the Sept. 11 attacks and the military service members who fought in wars in the years after.

The annual event is held on the weekend closest to Sept. 11 and is organized locally and nationally by the Travis Manion Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers veterans and families of the fallen to develop character in future generations.

Race organizers say approximately 1,200 participants are registered for the Daniel Island event. Nationwide, the run spans more than 70 cities and includes over 60,000 runners.

The event is not structured as a competition but as a community run meant to encourage participation at any pace. Runners, walkers and families are welcome.

“For me personally it’s amazing. It’s a family event. My kids have grown up in it. They’ve all taken roles in it. This year they’re actually participating in some of the planning and set up and that kind of stuff in addition to running it,” Race Director Travis Dodd said.

The main purpose is to unify the community and bring members of the Lowcountry together to never forget this significant day, even 24 years later.

Dodd, a veteran Lowcountry law enforcement officer of over 20 years, said the event hits closer to home.

“I can’t even imagine what some of those families go through,” Dodd said. “It’s one of those things that you wish never would happen to anybody, let alone somebody you know. And for it to happen to my family or anybody else’s family that I’m friends with it’s just a devastating tragedy that we never want to experience. But it’s reassuring knowing that there’s something like this out there that celebrates the lives of those that gave the ultimate sacrifice.”

Dodd said many local first responders are expected to attend or participate, with some even running in uniform.

Registration remains open and will continue through check-in at 8 a.m. Saturday. Registration is available here.

Ben Waring has been named as fire services manager, a new position within Berkeley County Government. Waring’s first day in the position was Oct. 20.

Waring is a Summerville native and Berkeley County resident with more than 25 years of experience in the fire service industry. In this new role, he will work collaboratively with the countywide and municipal fire departments to help further strengthen the fire service throughout the county.

“I’m honored to join Berkeley County Government and build on my decades of fire service experience in a new and impactful role, continuing to serve the communities I’m familiar with and alongside the local fire agencies who keep our county safe,” said Waring, in a statement.

Waring most recently served as fire chief of Pine Ridge Fire Rescue, where he started as a volunteer firefighter in 1997 before rising to volunteer fire chief in 2007 and paid full-time chief in 2021. While at Pine Ridge Fire Rescue, he helped oversee the successful formation of the South Berkeley Fire District in September 2025, a merger between Pine Ridge Fire Rescue and Goose Creek Rural Fire Department.

Waring’s fire career began with Summerville Fire Department in 1995. After two years volunteering there as a junior firefighter, he joined full-time with Charleston Fire Department where he served for 15 years, attaining the rank of captain.

Waring transitioned to Dorchester County Fire Rescue in 2012 to take on the role of battalion chief until 2021. While there, he was instrumental in the formation of countywide fire services in Dorchester County.

“Ben Waring brings a wealth of experience, proven leadership, vast operational knowledge, and a trustworthy commitment to public safety. He knows Berkeley County and Berkeley County communities know and trust him. We are confident that in this new and vital role, Waring will accomplish great things for the county and continue to work collaboratively with our municipal and volunteer agencies to strengthen service, safety, and resilience throughout our communities,” said Johnny Cribb, Berkeley County supervisor, in a statement.

Waring additionally serves as vice chair of the Berkeley County Fire Chiefs Association and is a member of the SC Fire Chiefs Association, and member and trustee of the SC Firefighters Association. His community involvement spans Berkeley and Dorchester counties, including membership at Summerville Presbyterian Church, Summerville Masonic Lodge #234 and the Omar Shrine Temple.

Provided by Berkeley County

As the Lowcountry prepares for its municipal elections on Tuesday, Nov. 4, voters will have the opportunity to select the city’s next Commissioner of Public Works, a role central to maintaining the city’s infrastructure.

Two candidates, Kathleen Wilson and Barbara Acobe, are seeking the nonpartisan office, which oversees the installation, upkeep and repair of water and sewer infrastructure. The six-year term gives the winner a long horizon to shape Charleston priorities surrounding public health and environmental protection.

Kathleen Wilson: Experience and forward planning

Current commissioner Kathleen Wilson, who has served on the Charleston Water System board since 2020, emphasizes preparation and infrastructure reliability.

“Charleston Water System has multiple challenges on multiple fronts. Customers often ask why rates are going up each year. There are the obvious causes, such as increased costs in everything that we do – goods and services purchased and the huge cost of maintaining our thousands of miles of infrastructure – but we constantly seek new and better materials in every aspect of this infrastructure, from new materials for water and sewage lines to reliable pump stations and ensuring that our product – finished, treated water – is as pristine as we can make it.”

Wilson highlighted the complexity of keeping water flowing in a growing city.

“We test constantly throughout our system, 120 or so tests each month, and the CWS operation runs 24/7/365. We anticipate issues, whether it is a sudden line break or strategically thinking through major capital projects.” She also noted the ongoing replacement of lead lines on the peninsula, ensuring homeowners receive new lines at no cost.

Facing future pressures, Wilson pointed to the Lowcountry Rapid Transit project, which will require costly relocations of water mains.

“This tremendous unfunded liability will force CWS to go to the bond markets. This greatly alters our capital projects plans and the ability to get smaller projects, less urgent, completed for several years.

"It will also result in additional rate hikes for all existing customers. We have no choice, and this will most likely fall to us. It is these types of occurrences that the public is not aware of that result in truly difficult decisions and increased rates that are not ours but rather poor planning on the part of another governmental agency.”

On balancing infrastructure growth with sustainability and affordability, Wilson stressed careful planning and financial oversight. She cited the $117 million West Ashley sewer tunnel extension, which she described as “a game changer," saying it will serve the area for the next 150 years.

In her bid for re-election, Wilson said, “I am proud to serve this utility and our customer base. We are fiscally sound, we think and plan well, and our staff is second to none. I would like to remain a commissioner and continue doing the quiet work of providing an excellent product, protecting the environment, and doing all at the most efficient cost to our customers.”

Barbara Acobe: Transparency and community-focused planning

Barbara Acobe, a former Charleston Water System employee of over 40 years, centers her campaign on proactive planning, community engagement, and balancing growth with affordability. She highlighted aging infrastructure and water quality concerns as her top priorities.

“(The city’s biggest challenges are) the depletion of our water south, conservation, and the replacement of many of the commissioner's water and sewer mains, which are nearing 100 years old,” she said. “To tackle this, I propose a thorough assessment of how growth affects our systems to guide us in identifying key areas for improvement and implementation.”

Acobe also emphasized the need to monitor chemical levels and aging pipes at the Plum Island facility while maintaining compliance with Environmental Protection Agency standards. She outlined a vision for a comprehensive and transparent approach.

“I recommend establishing a comprehensive plan that emphasizes transparency, keeping residents informed about water quality, safety, and any health risks. It's important to equip residents with proactive measures they can take to ensure they have safe water.”

On affordability, she believes in balancing preservation with growth. “I would advocate for a comprehensive plan that predicts future growth rates, has a sensible rate increase structure for all new businesses, seeks more federal and/or state funding for major projects, and funds reasonable solutions to reduce labor and material costs that contribute to rate increases.”

Acobe stressed the importance of coordination with city departments to guide development responsibly. “The city should adopt a transparent and collaborative approach, actively engaging the Department of Health and Environmental Control, as well as the zoning, planning, and preservation departments, to provide input on future development. This collaboration will help address any potential changes in rates that could impact affordability for ratepayers.”

She also emphasized the importance of effective waste management and ongoing maintenance of sewer systems to meet growing demands and control costs.

“I would advocate for gathering input from customers by conducting a comprehensive feasibility analysis of growth trends. This will help address community needs and concerns about affordable rates,” Acobe said, underscoring her focus on practical solutions that balance infrastructure, growth, and affordability.