Roofer in Moncks Corner, SC

Town of Moncks Corner Recreation Director Libya Rentz couldn’t have been more pleased with the group of softball all-stars representing the town during the South Carolina Athletic Programs’ state tournaments June 20-22 in Dillon.

Moncks Corner was one of only two towns represented in all four age groups: 8U, 10U, 12U and 15U. The squads fought tooth and nail for hours beneath a blazing sun each day and had the support of mayor Thomas Hamilton along the way.

“We are thrilled for the future of recreation softball and for the future of softball in general,” an upbeat Rentz said. “it’s going to continue to grow. Success breeds more success. The kids want to be a part of a program that’s positive and has a family atmosphere. Our softball recreation coaches put their heart and soul into these kids. It’s just everybody becoming a big family.”

Three of Moncks Corner’s teams finished up their summer all-star journeys in championship games and were so close to returning to the Lowcountry with a state trophy. The 8U and 12U squads fell in contests decided by one run and the 15U team also placed runner-up. The 10U team finished third, losing its final game by one run.

“The group of coaches we have right now in our recreation softball program are second to none,” Rentz said. “They treat these girls like they’re their own, even with a tear in their eyes after the final games. I listened to their postgame speeches. It was like we lost the game, but we learned as players and people, and we’ll be back. Moncks Corner was represented in a positive light. It was a proud moment for myself and Hannah Haines, our athletic coordinator over softball.”

Each Moncks Corner all-star team qualified for state by either winning or finishing second in SCAP’s Southern District tournaments earlier this month. State champions were decided through eight-team, double-elimination events.

“They fought and cheered each other on,” Rentz said. “They showed a lot of resilience. Believe me when I tell you the heat index was over 100. I couldn’t be more proud of the kids and coaches.”

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Berkeley County officially kicked off summer with the grand opening of a brand-new splash pad at Cypress Gardens — and it’s already making a splash with families.

County officials gathered for the celebration Saturday, where Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb praised the park’s staff and the collaborative effort behind the project.

“They envisioned this project. They’re out here every single day,” Cribb said. “If you come out to this park, and I encourage you to do so, there’s something added to it all the time. This is just the latest amenity. We’ll keep adding to it.”

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The splash pad features a tipping bucket, water cannons, shaded picnic areas, restrooms, and more — all designed to be accessible and inclusive for kids of all abilities. It’s the latest in a series of upgrades to the park and comes at a perfect time as school lets out for summer vacation.

Cribb noted the cost-saving teamwork that made it possible. “We had a lot of county departments involved in this. We self-performed a lot of the work, other than what Atkinson Pools did in order to keep the costs down.”

Departments including water and sanitation, roads and bridges, and facilities and grounds all played a role in completing the project. Atkinson Pools built the splash pad itself.

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The splash pad is included with regular Cypress Gardens admission: $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6–17, $6.50 for seniors, military, and 911 personnel. Children 5 and under are free.

The park is located at 3030 Cypress Gardens Road in Moncks Corner.

Moncks Corner’s 12-U all-stars posted a sparkling 5-0 record in the SCAP Southern District softball tournament at Felkel Field in Goose Creek June 10-14 to garner a bid to the state tournament.

Moncks Corner knocked off Charleston, 15-5, Saturday, June 14, to complete its perfect run in the South Carolina Athletic Programs’ event. It begins play in the eight-team state tournament Friday, June 20, in Dillon and hopes to be playing for all the marbles (after press time) a couple days later.

“I thought we played pretty well,” Moncks Corner coach Ron Mitchum said. “We had our backs against the wall a couple times. We were up 5-0 in one game and had to score a couple runs late to win it.”

David Williams and Jordan Buso also coach the all-star squad, which outscored opponents 48-16.

“I feel like we pitch really well and we’re solid behind the plate,” Mitchum said. “My daughter (Bella Mitchum) has been catching for five years. She’s able to throw runners out. She threw out two runners in the championship game.”

On the other end of the battery, left-handed pitcher Alexis Buso was dominant inside the circle. She came on in relief and fanned 12 batters without allowing a hit to earn the win and also knocked in a pair of runs to help herself at the plate. Mitchum, Ansley Williams, Kaedence Braddy, Ava Drew Ensor and Raegan Johnson also collected two RBIs each in the title game. Adylinn Covert was 3-for-3 and scored twice.

Earlier in the day, Moncks Corner cruised past North Charleston, 9-1, behind Buso’s 12 strikeouts and Williams’ three RBIs to reach the final. Moncks Corner also defeated North Charleston, 7-5, to start the tournament and followed up with victories over Charleston, 13-2, and Hanahan, 4-3.

Buso finished with 48 strikeouts in four pitching victories and Williams recorded nine strikeouts in the first game versus Charleston. Kennedy Fann, Mitchum and Gracelyn Barnette drove in two runs apiece in that one. Fann led the way, going 3-for-3 with three runs scored. Paris Newman added a RBI and scored once.

Against Hanahan, Moncks Corner manufactured the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Ensor walked to lead off the inning and gave way to courtesy runner Tess House. House moved to second base on a walk to Millie Sellars and scored on a pair of passed balls to break a 3-3 tie.

In the tournament opener, Buso plated a pair of runs and Newman added a RBI.

Fann and Buso capped the tournament as Moncks Corner’s leading hitters in terms of batting average, going 6-of-11.

There has been some debate over the rule, but the town of Moncks Corner made impact fees official at its May 20 council meeting. Now, if a developer or a business builds homes, apartments or commercial buildings, they will have to pay money to help the town absorb the hit on infrastructure.

Several local municipalities have adopted the fees, and with the town growing and developing, it was only a matter of time before Moncks Corner joined the list.

The city of Goose Creek charges developers a fee for single- or multi-family dwellings, as well as commercial or industrial construction. The fees are broken down based on the square footage of each structure. The impact fee for a multi-family dwelling is $1,926 for every 1,000 square feet of development, and for a single-family home, it is $2,567 for every 1,000 square feet.

"It's just another tool to cope with the growth," said Moncks Corner Mayor Thomas Hamilton following the unanimous vote by the council. "It's something we can use without burdening the taxpayer. These fees will go into an account, and then we can use it to buy things like fire trucks, police vehicles, sanitation trucks and other things that we have to spend money on to cover these new areas."

Particularly for Moncks Corner, a town that doesn't want to lose its small-town vibe, money helps with creativity. Making the case for impact fees, the mayor noted the cost of a new fire or sanitation truck is close to $1 million.

While buildable land is limited in Moncks Corner, the lion's share of the fee will be paid by commercial buildings, followed by home developers for single-family homes. The fees started on May 21.

"Anything that is permitted from that date will pay that impact fee," Hamilton said.

The fee will be $4,805 for each single-family home and $2,606 for each commercial apartment or townhome. Retail businesses will pay a maximum of $3,987 and industrial businesses will pay a maximum of $828.

"We seem to be in agreement with the developers," Hamilton said. "Some of the ones haven't given us any pushback because they want to be able to get the services the town can provide."

An Upstate convenience store and gas station operator is eyeing a fast-growing Berkeley County town for a new location.

Greenville-based Spinx has applied for a permit with the S.C. Department of Environmental Services to develop 6.6 acres for a store at 3212 Old Highway 52 in Moncks Corner.

According to the company, it is scheduled to open by the end of year.

Meanwhile, the chain is set to soon open its newest Lowcountry-area location in Mount Pleasant on the site of former Richard's Bar & Grill property on Highway 17, just north of the town's only Home Depot.

Spinx was founded in 1972 by Stewart Spinks when the former Shell Oil Co. employee bought his first gas station at Laurens Road and E. Washington Street in Greenville.

The retailer now operates more than 80 stores across the state.

Krystal in Colleton

A fast-food burger chain known for its square sliders is coming to Colleton County

Krystal announced it has struck a deal to return to the Lowcountry dining scene with a location at 1222 Bell Highway in Walterboro.

The restaurant is expected to open in July.

Krystal pulled out of the Charleston market nearly 30 years ago. The chain was founded in 1932 in Chattanooga, Tenn., and is now headquartered near Atlanta. It has more than 270 locations around the Southeast, including four in the Palmetto State.

The Krystal in Orangeburg was opened late last year by national radio personality Lenard McKelvey, who grew up in Moncks Corner and is better known as Charlemagne tha God, under a franchise agreement.

Peninsula pup-up

A self-service dog wash store has returned to downtown Charleston after nearly five years in a temporary location.

The Dog Wash’s larger space at 138 St. Philip St. is decorated like an old-school barber shop with bright red tubs inspired by red leather barbershop chairs.

Similar to a barbershop, each pet tub has its own mirror, so pups can get a good look at their freshly washed coifs.

With the larger space, owner Carrie Evans has added a robust retail section to the store, selling pet products, toys, grooming tools and pet accessories. The business also offers full-service grooming.

Evans, who previously worked in the fashion industry, came up with the idea of a self-service dog washing business in 2017 when she moved to the Lowcountry from New York and was looking for the common pet service ubiquitous in the Big Apple.

She opened her first store on Line Street and became a groomer, seeing the need for that service on the peninsula.

Relocating to a very small space in North Charleston following the COVID-19 pandemic kept loyal customers, but Evans had to pivot to only offering grooming services.

A massage appointment and impromptu networking with the owner of The Salt Spa on King Street led to finding a lease to bring The Dog Wash back downtown. Self-service washes are $30. Walk-ins are welcome. Grooming services are by appointment.

Smoothie bomb

The Bomb Bar, which serves smoothies, toasts, coffee and healthy breakfast and lunch options, has opened its second Lowcountry location at 424 Brighton Park Blvd. in Summerville's Nexton development.

Founded by Helen Hall-Leland, the business is now a franchise, with another location in Raleigh. According to a social media post, more than 400 people attended the Nexton opening.

The original Charleston location is at 466 Savannah Highway in West Ashley.

Fish Market

A new seafood restaurant has opened at 6 N. Market St., in the space that formerly housed Tabbuli Mediterranean. The Wreckfish Bar & Grill menu includes fried fish and seafood platters, sandwiches, peel-and-eat shrimp and oysters on the half shell.

Bagel topping

Ruby's Bagels is expanding again.

The company, which offers New York City-style bagels, breakfast and lunch options, spreads and coffee drinks, announced on social media it will open in Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek.

It will be the sixth location for the business since owners Joe and Denise Harvey and Kevin and Gail Roach, opened their first store opened in Mount Pleasant in 2022.