Refrigerated Trailer for Rent in Orangeburg, SC

A search is underway for a missing South Carolina man with medical issues who is considered to be in danger.

Zachary North was publicly reported missing by the Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office late Sunday night. The 32-year-old has not been seen for days, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.

North was last seen April 17 at a Winter Creek Road location, according to the release. That’s in the Bowman area of Orangeburg County, not far from Exit 159 on Interstate 26.

There was no word if North was alone when he was last seen. The sheriff’s department did not say if foul play was suspected in North’s disappearance.

North “has medical conditions that concern us,” Sheriff Leroy Ravenell said in the release.

Further information on his condition, or if he is need of medication, was not available, but the sheriff’s office called North “an endangered missing male.”

The sheriff’s office described North as a 5-foot-3, 135-pound man.

Anyone who has seen North, or has information about him, is asked to call the sheriff’s office at 803-534-3550, CrimeStoppers at 888-CRIME-SC or submit an online tip.

In the case of an emergency, always call 911.

“If you’ve seen him, please call us,” Ravenell said.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

Flood-affected businesses in Orangeburg remain closed, causing inconvenience for residents seeking local shopping and pharmacy options.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Businesses in Orangeburg are still recovering from the devastating floods that struck the area last November, with local some, including a pharmacy and a nearby store, among those impacted.

Since the floods, residents have had to seek out alternative pharmacies and shopping options, as both the Dollar General on Stonewall Jackson Boulevard and the CVS on John C. Calhoun Drive remain closed after being submerged. Months later, both locations are still shut down.

"I've been dying for them to open back up because I'm kind of far out in the country, and me being to this CVS is a lot closer for me going to that one than trying to go right there a little farther down," said Orangeburg resident Roszeana Keitt. "Well, it's been down now for like 2 months now, so it, it has been a big inconvenience like gas wise."

In a statement to WLTX, CVS said, "We’re still evaluating future plans for the site. In the meantime, customers and patients can visit our other Orangeburg location at 2195 Magnolia Street." CVS also stated that all workers at the location were offered comparable roles at nearby CVS locations. The company declined to disclose the cost of flood-related damages.

But for residents like Keitt, having only one CVS in Orangeburg makes things more difficult. "I've been going to CVS on John C. for the last, I'll say, 3 or 4 years and picking up my kids' medication from over there. But, since we've had the inconvenience with the flood, it's been a lot aggravating going to the other CVS and having a longer wait and not used to going there. I'm pretty familiar with the other side of CVS and dealing with the people that's there, so me switching over to the new CVS has been a big inconvenience for me," Keitt added.

For residents like Laphaedra Cox, having an affordable shopping option is crucial. "So that Dollar General was a frequent stop for me just because it's close by my house, and it is an inconvenience being that you have to kind of resort to other options of finding somewhere else to go just for small items, especially when you have a little baby," Cox said.

If both stores remain closed and decide to sell, the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce says other businesses will move in.

"Any time a door closes, another one opens and probably a better one, so if we find out that some of the closings are permanent, you better believe we're gonna be looking for ways to find other retail opportunities, businesses. It's not gonna stay vacant. We're gonna work to make sure that whatever comes, and there will be something else, works to the benefit of this community," said James McQuilla, president of the Orangeburg County Chamber of Commerce.

News 19 reached out to Dollar General, but they did not respond before the deadline.

A new bill could make Orangeburg County the first in South Carolina to have a casino.

SANTEE, S.C. — A new bill introduced at the South Carolina State House Thursday could make Orangeburg County the first place in South Carolina to have a casino.

The I-95 Economic and Education Stimulus Act bill was presented to the South Carolina House Ways and Means Committee. It would grant casino licenses to certain counties categorized as Tier 4, which could benefit Orangeburg County.

"I-95 is one of the places along I-95 considered in the poverty belt for some counties, and so any economic development would be looked at favorably because of the fact that it would boost tourism and infrastructure as well as housing in that area," Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young said.

One possible site for the casino is the former Santee Outlet Mall. The Santee Development Corporation, which purchased the abandoned mall, plans to transform the property into a casino and resort. The development would include a hotel, spa, restaurant, and retail spaces, and the developers estimate it would create 4,618 new jobs and generate over $58 million in annual tax revenue.

The Santee Development Corporation sees the project as a chance to transform the area.

"It’s time to stop kicking the same can down the road and take a new approach—to think differently and with an open mind," the corporation said in a statement to News19. "There’s a tangible, transformative and life-changing opportunity for one such area, Orangeburg County, and along the I-95 corridor staring us in the face, without one dime of taxpayer risk."

Jane Powell, with the Santee Cooper Country Tourism Center, highlighted the need for more accommodations on the county's eastern side.

"I think it was 88 boats on the lake this weekend for a tournament. Some of those guys come to town," Powell said. "They stay here in Santee, then you've got, today is Friday, you've got people that are traveling on spring break that are going from north to the south, south to north to see Grandma, they stop off here because we're a halfway point. The hotels fill up, the next morning, you know, a new crowd comes in."

"Our people, schools and businesses will benefit dramatically as people traveling on I-95 will no longer pass us by but make us a destination place to visit and spend their money," Senator Brad Hutto, a co-sponsor of the bill, said. "I am just as confident that a privately owned resort casino owned by South Carolinians, properly governed with safeguards in place, will transform our county and region into an economic engine we can all be proud of."

For the casino to move forward, the South Carolina General Assembly must pass the legislation, and the governor must sign it into law.

The developer is scheduled to meet with the mayor of Vance on Monday to discuss the project.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - Thousands of people have been posting on social media to save a restaurant in Orangeburg County.

The Dairy-O restaurant has been in Orangeburg for more than 75 years. It’s one of the few locally-owned fast food restaurants left in the county.

Community members made a social media campaign to save the restaurant after its owner, Tommy Robinson, said the restaurant could be lost due to plans to build a new courthouse right next door.

Robinson’s restaurant could be bought through eminent domain laws, so construction of the courthouse will be in compliance with state regulations for driveway spacing and easements around public buildings.

“They’d made an offer a couple years back,” said Robinson. “I didn’t take the offer. About four months ago, I had a letter of possible eminent domain come in.”

If that happens — the county can purchase the land from the owner at fair market value, but the owner would not get money for the business.

County officials said they originally hoped the courthouse being closer would bring more people to the Dairy-O and added they are now trying to find a solution so this institution can stay.

“At the end of the day, we’re just trying to work this out,” said Orangeburg County Administrator Harold Young. “We’ve been in contact with the business owner and council and we’re trying to see if we can come up with a solution. Don’t need any backlash, we’re just trying to do what’s right for the citizens.”

Michael Butler, the mayor of Orangeburg, said the city’s zoning board could issue a variance that would make recommendations for repositioning current plans for the new courthouse.

So far, the mayor says the city has not gotten involved.

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