Commercial Electrician in Great Falls, SC

The Lowcountry is known for the beauty and accessibility of its myriad waterways. Slow-moving blackwater rivers flow tannin-brown to the sea through swampy bottomlands and cypress forests. Salty estuaries surround emerald Sea Islands with a tidal flow that makes both the calendar and the clock important to even the simplest boat or kayaking excursion. If one wants to experience whitewater — the joy of “falling waters” cascading over fall line rocks — a trip to the Piedmont or mountains is in order. However, such destinations can be multiple hours away and impossible for a day trip or weekend visit.

The town of Great Falls on the Catawba River on the edge of the Piedmont region offers an opportunity to do just that and be home in time for your evening walk. Earlier this year, the Great Falls Whitewater Park opened to the public and offers a venue for whitewater kayaking and rafting.

Created as part of a multi-year effort by Duke Energy to restore and re-engineer the shoals at Great Falls, it seeks to protect the waterways as well as provide outdoor recreation opportunities. The park consists of a paperclip-shaped run with class 3 rapids, and another section with class 3 and class 4 waves. As visitors and outdoor enthusiasts benefit, so does the town of Great Falls and its local citizens.

First dammed in 1907, the river at Great Falls served the massive textile industry for decades. When the mills closed in the late 20th century, the region fell into decline. The dams remained, providing hydroelectric power for the area and preserving a unique reservoir environment of its own. One of these, known as Stumpy Pond, is a wonder to experience. Its placid waters are surrounded by granite cliffs and outcroppings and filled with lush, forested islands. On one of these lies the site of Fort Dearborn, a U.S. arsenal built in 1803 and designed by the same engineer who built the Old Santee Canal, a Lowcountry first.

Stumpy Pond is part of an 870-acre series of lakes, is rich in history and rich in nature as well. The waters teem with fish. Bass, bream, and other species make the lake an excellent place for fishing. The waters fairly boil with feeding panfish enjoying newly hatched clouds of mayflies, while heron, egret and osprey dart and dive after prey of their own.

There are no alligators in Stumpy Pond, and so it is a good place to take your four-legged friend on a boating expedition. I recently paddled Stumpy Pond with a group of friends and my 10-year-old beagle, Lucy. Launching in mid-morning from the Stumpy Pond boat ramp, we circumnavigated the beautiful lake, exploring coves and beneath rocky cliffs. A pair of bald eagles soared above, while an osprey dove in a watery spray. By lunch we were at the head of the lake where the reservoir meets the rocky shoals, where Lucy enjoyed a swim and a hike along a rocky trail.

The recently restored river flow cascaded over granite boulders and rippled along channels between small islands, producing a park-like environment. Indeed, a new state park is planned to open on the historic and aptly named Big Island by 2027, bringing more visitors to this beautiful and unique destination.

Mike Vaughn runs Great Falls Adventures, a local outfitter and guide. He provides kayaks for trips on Stumpy Pond as well as whitewater opportunities at the new park. “I recommend running the rapids in a raft. It is lots of fun and may be easier for beginners.” As the season draws to a close, Mike is planning for new business in spring as word of the park continues to spread.

If you would like to have a whitewater experience that is more convenient than a trip to the mountains, then Great Falls can be your next destination. Stumpy Pond and its connected waterways provide additional outdoor adventure of a quieter nature. Whatever your preference may be, a drive of only a few hours can provide a day of enjoyment for you and your four-legged friends.

Great Falls is located 45 minutes north of Columbia off I-77 in Chester County and a little less than three hours from the Beaufort area. The whitewater park is located at the town on the river front and is free to the public. The Stumpy Pond boat ramp is located across the water in Lancaster County. To get there, take I-95 and I-26 to Columbia and I-77 north to Exit 48. Take S.C. 200 east to Great Falls. The ramp for Stumpy Pond is across the river. Take a right off S.C. 200 to S.C. 97 and a right on S.C. 29-20 to Bluefield Road.

There are no facilities at the boat ramp, but the town of Great Falls has restaurants and conveniences.

For more info on the Great Falls Whitewater Park or to book a trip, call Mike Vaughn at Great Falls Outfitters at (803) 899-2206 or visit greatfallsadventures.com.

GREAT FALLS, S.C. — A high school campus in Chester County was placed into lockdown Wednesday because of a reported fight. Later, deputies said an adult who was not authorized to be on campus was present.

Chester County School District leaders said in a message to parents that the fight broke out at Great Falls High School. While the incident did send the campus into lockdown, district leaders said no shots were fired and no weapons were recovered. The message specifically outlined this because of rumors on social media claiming gunshots were fired during the fight.

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An investigation is ongoing, and a district spokesperson deferred further questions to the Chester County Sheriff's Office. Deputies asked the public to avoid the campus as the investigation went on.

WCNC Charlotte received further details later in the afternoon from the sheriff's office. Deputies said the fight happened around 12:30 p.m. and involved two students. The school resource officer at the campus was able to take control of the situation quickly.

However, the sheriff's office said the officer then learned an unauthorized adult had gotten on campus somehow. The officer was able to find the person quickly and secured them in handcuffs. Deputies say the adult is now detained pending further investigation.

While students were secured during the lockdown, the sheriff's office said some students got away from campus. Arrangements are being made for those students to come back to school to be accounted for.

The sheriff's office said law enforcement will remain on campus to continue investigating. Deputies asked parents to help keep school release smooth at the normal time of 3:30 p.m.

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GREAT FALLS, S.C. — A fight led to false rumors about a shooting at a Chester County high school Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.

According to the Chester County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were first called to Great Falls High School around 12:30 p.m. because of a fight between two students. They said a student resource officer was able to quickly take control.

However, within minutes of the fight, the school was put on lockdown because an unauthorized person was reported to be on property.

Deputies said the SRO put that person, an adult, in handcuffs just seconds later. They’re being detained while the sheriff’s office continues their investigation.

Deputies arrested Joseph Caldwell, age 29, Montravious Easley, 23, and Jamal Jackson, 20.

They were each being charged with assault by mob, criminal conspiracy, and disturbing schools. Officials did not give any details about what they did.

ALSO READ: Hoax leads to lockdown at Ardrey Kell High School, police say

One parent said they wanted to know how that person even got on campus in the first place.

“These kids, they’re supposed to be safe,” Gloria Walls said. “And how can you get inside of a schoolhouse that’s supposed to be locked down at all times? You guys have security.”

One of the students involved in the initial fight was detained afterward. Police officers and deputies later arrived and began clearing the building.

The sheriff’s office emphasized that there was no shooting and no weapon had been found on school property.

Because of the lockdown, students were in their classrooms, but some fled campus, deputies said. Deputies made arrangements for those students to return to the school bus loop at the Great Falls High School and be accounted for.

Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the school around 2:30 p.m. Dozens of cars had lined up as parents waited to get clarification on what was going on.

Students were scheduled for dismissal at 3:30 p.m., the usual time.

The investigation is ongoing.

(WATCH BELOW: Fight involving machete prompts school lockdowns in Statesville, police say)

Fight involving machete prompts school lockdowns in Statesville, police say

South Carolina Sen. Mike Fanning rolled the legs of his suit pants above his knees and stepped barefoot into the cold Catawba River.

Waving a handkerchief, he shouted to a dozen kayakers: “Ladies and gentlemen, the first launch in the history of the brand new whitewater here in Great Falls, S.C., make some noise!”

The kayakers and attendees at Wednesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony cheered. He counted down from five.

There were swoosh sounds as colorful kayaks launched in the dark waterway lined with trees. After a short paddle, the kayakers — barely visible from a bridge — moved into a vast lake.

In the distance, the rapids formed.

More than a hundred people gathered in this small Chester County, S.C., town to celebrate the opening of a new access area on the river for whitewater rafting, paddling and other recreation. The opening is just one part of a large-scale project that has a unique history.

The channel on the river had not seen water in 117 years. Dams were built to divert water to power multiple mills and the community.

Duke Energy will officially open one of two bypass channels on Saturday for public use. The bypass is designed for leisurely kayaking and canoeing and is appropriate for families and individuals.

A short bypass, which is described as challenging, will open in May. The short bypass is for professional kayakers and experienced enthusiasts.

The river access areas and bypass channels are part of the Great Falls-Dearborn project — a large-scale design that has many components, including hiking trails, a state park, an historic visitor’s center, a pedestrian bridge, canoe and kayak launch sites, parking and restrooms. This all spans across nearly three miles along the scenic river.

The state park will be on Dearborn Island.

Duke Energy finalized a lease with the S.C. Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism in early February to help the state develop a park on the 600-acre island. There will be trails and a campground. Duke is providing $1.5 million for the park, which may take several years to build, said Christy Churchill, the project’s recreation planner.

But Wednesday’s focus was the water.

Kevin Colburn is national stewardship director for American Whitewater, a river conservation organization. He described the bypasses as “otherworldly.”

“It’s sort of prehistoric,” he said. “You see these reptiles, these giant birds, fish the size of your leg — it’s not normal. It’s a very cool, unique, beautiful place.”

Colburn said the river is going to “roar back to life.”

“I mean, it’s really hard to build good whitewater, like shockingly hard,” he said. “It’s a whole lot of science and a whole lot of art. And they nailed it.”

The long bypass is a 2.25 mile stretch for leisure kayaking and canoeing and has Class II and III rapids.

The short bypass will have faster water flowing over three-quarters of a mile that will have Class III and IV rapids. Duke Energy controls how much water it releases into the channels. The flows are 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Water enters the long bypass through two flows. The larger flow provides water for paddlers downstream and for aquatic habitat enhancement, according to Ben Williamson, a spokesperson for Duke Energy. Paddlers should enter the long bypass through the safe-boater bypass, he said.

Signs at the Nitrolee Access Area, where paddlers will enter the long bypass, show paddlers how to access the channel and gives details about appropriate watercraft and equipment, said Ellen Morton, Duke Energy spokesperson.

Churchill said opening the short bypass and trails has been delayed due to supply chain and construction hurdles.

“You can only get to the island to build those trails by barge,” she said. “And so sometimes, we’ve had days where we just couldn’t get there with all of our equipment.”

Tim Huffman, senior project manager for the project, said in 2014, his boss asked his opinion about the project.

“I told him that aside from the fact that the project was in two places, a crows flight, mile apart — one at the bottom of a river cliff, the other merely totally inaccessible, that there was no access to power, that the entire effort would be in the middle of a choke point in a river prone to flooding, and that we had zero idea of what we were actually supposed to do, that I saw no problems,” Huffman said jokingly.

Huffman described the short bypass as a “high tech piece,” and said they used marine fleet tugboats and a tower crane to “reach the unreachable.”

Huffman named nearly 85 people who worked on the project.

Fanning described the project as a “game changer.”

“We’re anticipating larger numbers of people coming down here regularly to get an experience that they can get nowhere else,” he said.

Great Falls Mayor Joshua Brantley said the access areas are going to bring opportunity to the town.

“There’s a ton on our plate, with what we’re going to have to do to try to manage and maintain the abundance of the tourists that will be here,” Brantley said.

Potential investors in the town have contacted him about bringing in jobs, retail, housing and mixed-use development, he said.

“It’s a matter of us really digging deep down into a master plan and really determining what is the best fit for Great Falls,” Brantley said.

Glinda Coleman, executive director of the Great Falls Home Town Association — a community and economic development non-profit— said developers have approached the town with ideas about using some of the abandoned mills, bringing in coffee shops, restaurants and places to stay.

Coleman did not elaborate on specific details, but said they are in negotiations.

The town association’s mission has been to bring nature-based tourism to the area, she said.

The association has plans for other trails, kayaking opportunities aside from whitewater, bird-watching, camping, cycling and plans for a “vibrant” Main Street in the “very near future.”

“Because of where Great Falls is, the river being here, it’s going to really be a great opportunity for growth in our area,” Coleman said. “And the whitewater is just the beginning.”

The access area and bypass channels don’t have have official names.

Duke Energy started construction on the project in 2020. As part of a new license for the Catawba-Wateree Project in 2015, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requires Duke to provide recreation, enhancement to water quality and quantity, wildlife and land conservation along the river.

The main focus of this project is to bring water back to the two channels, which once made up the 50-foot Great Falls of the Catawba, the town’s namesake.

Great Falls is between Charlotte and Columbia, and both cities are connected by Interstate 77. Charlotte is roughly an hour north of Great Falls (about 55 miles from Uptown). Columbia is 45 minutes from Great Falls (46 miles away). The drive from Rock Hill, S.C. is about 35 minutes.

Traveling south from Charlotte, a driver would take Exit 55. Traveling north from Columbia, take Exit 48.

This story was originally published March 17, 2023, 11:02 AM.

CHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (CN2 NEWS) – Be bad. Be Bold. Be Bada**, that’s what was written on a bracelet that went home with a Great Falls Elementary 5th grade student

Initially, the district wasn’t sure how many of those bracelets were actually distributed to its 5th grade graduating class by Great Falls High School.

They explained, “The motivational bracelets came in an assorted bulk package that was purchased by the school. One of the bracelets given out said, “Be Brave, Be Strong, Be Bada**. This was unbeknownst to school officials when the bracelets were distributed to the students.” That’s according to Chris Christoff, Jr., the Director of Marketing and Communications for the district.

As it turned out after investigating, only one child actually brought home a bracelet with that message. Apparently there were only three of those particular bracelets in the pack.

School administration for Great Falls High School and Great Falls Elementary School did post statements to parents on Facebook to apologize for the inappropriate messaging.

They say they “profusely apologize for the oversight, adding they would never do anything that could be perceived as disrespectful to our schools, our district, or this great community”. They also asked parents to send the bracelets back in so it could be traded out for a more appropriate one.

YORK COUNTY, S.C. (CN2 NEWS) – Nothing Pink is a great non profit that helps in the breast cancer fight, but they have a unique mission.

They work to create awareness of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer and provide personalized support to individuals at high risk. In the above video you can learn more about how it all started from their founder, but this weekend they are hosting a Nothing Pink ride, run, walk.

It’s a new way they’re working to raise money to help more women. Here are the details: the run/walk/bike is being held Saturday, May 20th and participants can either log miles from any location of their choice from 8am-2pm…or…they can come join others at Walter Elisha Park from 12-2.

Then, join in for the after-party at Model A Brewing from 2pm-5pm also Saturday.

Click here to register and visit nothingpink.org to learn more about their mission. Registration is $35.

ROCK HILL, S.C. (CN2 SPORTS) – CN2 Sports has learned that an area coaching legend passed away – three time Big South Coach of the year Mark Cooke.

Cooke led the Winthrop Softball team for 29 seasons and retired at the end of 2018 as the Big South’s all time leader in coaching victories. During his time leading the Eagles the squad won four big south titles with two NCAA Regional appearances.

Cooke was originally hired in 1990 to serve as Softball and Volleyball Coach, pulling double duty until 1996. His best season perhaps came in 2007 when the Eagles won 50 contests and five years later in 2012 he got career win number 700 against the ninth ranked Tennessee Volunteers.

Less than a year after his retirement Coach Cooke was inducted into the Winthrop Athletics Hall of Fame. Not long afterwards, Cooke was hired to lead the Softball program at Legion Collegiate Academy where he would lead them to the state title in 2021. Mark Cooke was 69 years old we at CN2 extend our condolences to his wife April and their sons Seth and Noah.

ROCK HILL, S.C. (CN2 NEWS) – In our latest CN2 Newscast, York County’s Passport Acceptance Facility urges future out-of-country travelers to waste no time in securing a passport.

Plus, the Spider Lilies at Landsford Canal State Park in Chester County are quickly approaching full bloom!

And in CN2 Sports, Jeremy Wynder has updates on whose still in the playoff picture, and whose is turning in their uniforms.

See those stories and more on this May 16th edition of CN2 News.