electrician in Johns Island, SC

NORTH CHARLESTON — A man provided Charleston County deputies with a different name before he took off running across several lanes of a major road and jumping from an overpass.

Kelvin Cole, 56, died Oct. 28 after being struck by multiple cars on Interstate 26. Investigators later determined he had active arrest warrants from Charleston County’s Family Court and the S.C. Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services.

Cole, who lived and worked as a welder in Johns Island, was riding in the passenger seat of a car when a deputy stopped it for alleged traffic violations. The car’s 31-year-old driver was ultimately given a warning.

Attempts to reach Cole’s family Nov. 2 were unsuccessful.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office released an incident report Nov. 2, several days after Cole’s death. It provides new details on what preceded the moment he ran from the deputy.

Deputy Tanner Buller was patrolling around 10:30 p.m. near Stall and Mazyck roads in North Charleston when he noticed a white SUV swerve several times from its lane, the report states. The driver also failed to use a turn signal when changing lanes.

Buller, who has worked in law enforcement for five years, had a deputy-in-training with him during the stop. He flipped on his blue lights and the SUV pulled over onto the Ashley Phosphate Road overpass, which sits atop I-26.

Buller spoke with the car’s driver through the passenger-side window. The driver denied he had been drinking, but Buller wrote he could smell marijuana and alcohol coming from the vehicle’s passenger side. The car’s passenger, later identified as Cole, told the deputy his name was Raymond Brown.

Buller had both men get out of their car so he could search them. The driver admitted he’d smoked marijuana earlier in the day, the report states.

When Cole exited the car, Buller saw a beer can near the passenger seat. Buller found Cole’s driver’s license and noticed it did not match the name he’d provided the deputy.

Buller tried to detain Cole “but he pulled away and fled on foot” across Ashley Phosphate Road, the report states. The deputy chased Cole while trying to avoid traffic.

He repeatedly asked Cole to stop but the man “eventually jumped over the guardrail,” the report states. Buller saw Cole’s hands “grabbing the rail for a brief period” before he appeared to let go and fall onto I-26, the report states.

Buller never drew his weapon, said Andrew Knapp, a Sheriff’s Office spokesman. The deputy remains on duty. In addition to conducting its own internal review, the Sheriff’s Office also requested State Law Enforcement Division investigate the incident, Knapp said.

Investigators searched Cole’s name in a federal database and found he had an active warrant with the probation department, as well as three bench warrants with Charleston County’s Family Court.

Cole was the defendant in an ongoing child support case filed in 2016, court records show.

He was placed on a year of probation in February 2020 after pleading guilty in Charleston County to a forgery charge. Cole’s probation sentence would not be terminated until he paid all associated fees, said Anita Dantzler, a department spokeswoman.

Cole owed nearly $2,500 to the department, records show.

JOHNS ISLAND — On most days and particularly at rush hour, traffic to and from the island hits a bottleneck at Maybank Highway and River Road that creates long delays.

A much-anticipated connection that could provide relief should soon be underway.

The so-called “northern pitchfork” would create a short bypass connection between the two roads, avoiding the congested intersection of those routes.

Charleston County Council is expected to award a $4.3 million construction contract Nov. 10.

The contract with Gulf Stream Construction would come more than 12 years after the county began an analysis of Maybank Highway traffic improvements and years after the county approved the road project, which was originally more ambitious.

Earlier plans called for both “northern” and “southern” bypass roads connecting Maybank Highway to River Road.

That’s how the “pitchfork” name came to be, with the Paul J. Gelegotis Bridge forming the handle and the three planned connections to River Road forming the tines. But the southern connection is no longer an active project.

Council’s Finance Committee unanimously recommended approving the northern pitchfork construction contract on Nov. 3, without discussion, setting the stage for final approval Nov. 10.

“I think it’s certainly going to help,” said Johns Island resident and Rational Roads co-founder John Zlogar.

The pitchfork was seen as an alternative to widening Maybank Highway to five lanes, as was proposed in the 2006 county sales tax referendum. The city of Charleston adopted a plan in 2007 endorsing the pitchfork concept, and later acquired the land for the road during the approval process for a development.

Since that time, one westbound lane was added to Maybank Highway west of the bridge, but traffic backups remain common.

“The people of Johns Island have been waiting a long time for the traffic relief the Northern Pitchfork project will bring,” said County Councilwoman Anna Johnson, who represents the island. “I am very glad the project will soon be under construction and look forward to its completion.”

Plans for the northern pitchfork were finished six years ago, but faced delays in federal permitting that were partially due to changes in land ownership.

The short, new connector road will allow traffic coming from the bridge that’s headed for northbound River Road to turn at Fenwick Hall Allee and continue to River Road.

Likewise, River Road traffic north of Maybank Highway could use the new connection to get to the bridge across the Stono River, avoiding the intersection.

“This is an important first step in finally getting some meaningful traffic relief for Johns Island, but just a first step,” Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said. “It’s critical for our residents’ quality of life that we keep moving forward and breaking ground on these traffic-improvement projects across the islands and West Ashley.”

Charleston County’s transportation sales tax will be used to fund the road construction. Work is expected to take about two years.

JOHNS ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — A piece of history is coming to John’s Island as a new mural honoring Lowcountry civil rights activists is set to be unveiled in a Wells Fargo Wednesday.

Johns Island has a rich history in the civil rights movement with the “mother of the civil rights movement" Septima Clark born and raised on the island. It’s people like Clark and pioneers like Esau Jenkins who this mural is dedicated to.

The mural is a collection of images of Clark and Jenkins during their time on Johns Island, as well as folk singer Guy Carawan, who introduced "We Shall Overcome" to the civil rights movement, and golf pioneer Henry Picard.

Wells Fargo partnered with local historic societies and libraries to get the images pictured in the mural. The company unveils around 10 to 15 murals a year across the country each year.

While the image resides within the walls of the bank, officials said they want to create a common space for residents with a little touch of history.

“Our purpose is to be a gift back to the community, But also to educate the current clientele and future children of current customers about the importance of their community and its contribution to the civil rights movement, “ Cross Enterprise Initiatives Director for Wells Fargo Beth Curry said.

Clark helped developed literacy and citizenship workshops which played a huge role in the drive for voter’s rights among African Americans in the 1900s. Esau Jenkins is one of the most influential people in the history of the Johns Island. He founded many organizations to improve educational and economic wealth of minority’s in the area during the 1900s.

Guy Carawan introduced “We Shall Overcome" to the civil rights movement, causing it become a staple song during the movement and Henry Picard who won the 1938 masters and 1939 PGA Championship, becoming the first golfer from the Lowcountry to do so.

Designers said the impacts these natives have had on Johns Island and the Lowcountry is something which needs to be acknowledged more in the area.

“We really want to make sure that these people are renowned for the current generation, so that they know from whence they come, their community is so important. And it is different than Charleston. I mean, obviously, Charleston, it's a suburb of Charleston, but you want it to be known for its own history and legacy," Curry said.

The unveiling was scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. Bill Jenkins, the son of Esau Jenkins, and Nerie Clark, the grandson of Septima Clark, were expected to be in attendance.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Charleston’s Planning Commission on Wednesday will review plans for a new residential development on James Island.

The property has both low-lying wetlands and high ground, which appears to be causing concern for some James Island residents.

One James Island resident, Franny Henty, said she is concerned about the flooding problems that developments in low-lying areas may cause for surrounding neighbors.

Developers are proposing to build the ‘Harbor View Towns’ near the intersection of the James Island Expressway and Harbor View Road. According to the submitted plans, it will consist of six single-family and 10 multifamily units.

Henty lives off of Folly Road, right near Publix.

With the multiple jurisdictions interacting on James Island, she said she hopes the city is being careful with its stormwater retention plan, especially considering the low-lying areas and wetlands on the property.

“Adding so much development can flood out the neighbors, and that’s not apparent immediately, its apparent years later, Henty said.

City of Charleston Director of Planning, Preservation and Sustainability Robert Summerfield said the majority of the property is high land, but the portion of the property containing wetlands will be “pretty significantly” buffered away.

He said the developer’s plans include a stormwater retention plan, and even though the multiple jurisdictions can be confusing from a planning perspective, he is confident in the city’s stormwater requirements.

“This property is in the city, this property is not, and so on and so forth. But this one is in the city, has to meet all of our requirements. And again, our stormwater requirements, I would put those up against any in the state in terms of their stringent requirements to safeguard against future, and particularly downstream, flooding,” Summerfield said.

We are waiting to hear from the developer for comment.

Today’s planning commission meeting will take place at 5:00 p.m. in the Public Meeting Room on the first floor of 2 George Street.

The meeting will also be live streamed and recorded on the City of Charleston Public Meetings YouTube channel.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — The 33rd Holiday Festival of Lights is back and as bright as ever.

It features over 2 million lights and more than 700 displays.

Guests are invited to drive along a three-mile stretch of colorful blinking bulbs and get out of the car for more holiday experiences.

"There's two areas in the park, Winter Wonderland and Santa's Village, and there's a lot more to see in those areas such as gift shops, Santa will be here in a few weeks. We have marshmallow roasting, food, all kinds of other great things that you have to experience while you're here," said Sarah Reynolds, Public Information Coordinator for Charleston County Parks.

Reynolds says almost 6 million people have come to the event since it opened in 1989.

She says it takes the staff more than an hour to turn on the displays.

"We have some really unique light displays, and you know, some iconic Charleston imagery that are reflected in the light displays here. So it's a really beautiful, really amazing event to drive through," Reynolds said.

Many people say they were ready to get into the holiday spirit. That’s why they attended this season’s debut.

"Every year is something different, and it just always makes people so happy," returning visitor Alexandra Yakobleba said.

Parks and recreation officials say there are more lights this year and you can buy tickets to see the displays from a dragon boat tour.

You get to dry you get to paddle next to like some of the light displays and so it's a really unique opportunity to see those light displays up close," Reynolds said.

Tickets can be bought online in advance or at the gate.

But they’ll be slightly more expensive on busier evenings.

"We have identified peak nights and regular nights at the Festival of Lights. So if you come on a regular night, you're going to be paying a lower admission rate for your vehicle. So we encourage everyone to check out our website, check out the calendar and try to come on a regular night if you can. And we're also offering advance ticket purchases so you don't have to buy your ticket at the gate," Reynolds said.

"Whoever is seeing this, you have got to come out here," Yakobleba said.

If you didn't make it opening night, the festival will be open each night from 5:30 to 10 p.m. through December 31st.