SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCIV) — It remains to be seen exactly what Ian will bring our way this weekend, but residents of a Summerville community are worried about potential flooding after a history of problems in the past.

ABC News 4’s Sean Mahoney reported on this area near main street exactly a year ago where residents like Todd Hubbard claimed the drainage system in the city was dangerously worn out.

He said after just a small rainstorm in his backyard is turned into a swimming pool and he is worried about what could come with Hurricane Ian on the horizon

Hubbard’s home is on a six-foot decline from main street in district two of Summerville, which causes the water to rush down at high speeds.

Hubbard says it has gotten so bad he took out a flood policy even though it is not in a flood zone. he says the city has been slow in responding to his requests for solutions over the past year and is worried about the impact Ian could have

“It makes me nervous, you know, having almost flooded before the water has literally been within an inch of my doorstep,” Hubbard said, “You know, so a storm of this size. They're saying it's it'll be slow moving. Yeah, it concerns me, you know, because not all the drains going up the hill are adequately taking in water.”

Hubbard did say the city has installed open drain systems around his neighborhood since our story last year, however he says at times the water has backed up from those drains and went into his backyard.

We reached out to the town of Summerville for a response about Hubbard’s specific property and they did say they are working on a plan to possibly raise the main drain in his neighborhood to allow more water to come in and prevent blockages.

They have taken preventative measures in major parts of the city to fix their drainage systems, such as raising drain outlets and working to update full system, but town officials say their hands can be tied when it comes to making major changes.

Town Administrator Russ Cornette said many of these drainage systems go under houses and they don’t have the easement (or right) to be able to go into someone’s land to make major changes to drainage systems.

Cornette said they've been helping with flooding on private property, but they say this is just a courtesy.

He says the city does the best they can to install ditches and open drains to try and relieve some of the excess water in big rainfalls but just some areas, just by the geography of the town, will naturally get it worse.

“There's certain there's areas in town as his portfolio falling, the flooding and other areas of low lying areas obviously going to collect more water than areas on top of ridges and hills and we address those in best we can make sure they're free and clear,” Cornette said.

Cornette did say the city has been preparing for Ian over the past couple of days by visiting several “high risk” areas to see if drainage pipes are not clogged and there are not debris in ditches which could cause overflow.

Cornette also asks residents who live near a ditch or “organic structure” to make sure there is no debris blocking possible paths of water and if there is a problem to call the town.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCIV ) — Hunger is a familiar problem for the Lowcountry. With inflation, more and more families need help to put food on the table.

One local food bank has plans to expand and hopes a new status will help them feed more people.

Abraham Belanger wears many hats- one of them is pastor of First Fruits Community Church.

In the back, a food pantry available to help those in need.

Right now, the shelves are fully stocked with things like black beans, peanut butter, and tuna thanks to their partners Earth Fare of Summerville and Lowe’s on Dorchester Road. Their deep freezers are currently empty.

“We don’t have any chicken or beef or anything, so what we do is as we get donations, we go out and buy everything and fill up the freezers and give it out,” said Abraham Belanger, founder of Summerville Food Bank.

Even with full shelves now, Belanger doesn’t expect that to last.

“By the end of January and February, these shelves will be back down and that is when we really count on a lot of our community members, individual donations, people that do food drives,” said Belanger.

They usually give out about 50 bags a month. Each contains non-perishable items like jelly, peanut butter, and other items on the shelves along with a bag of chicken, beef, eggs, cheese, bologna and hot dogs.

Their focus is Summerville and other parts of Berkeley and Dorchester counites, but they're willing to help other areas too.

“We have just normal families coming through saying we really need some help and we have been able to be that help to them, which is great,” said Belanger. “We want to impact the communities, we want to be able to take food out to as many organizations as possible so they can distribute in their community as well.”

As the need grows, now the food bank can keep up. Summerville Food Bank is now officially recognized 501(c)(3).

As of Wednesday, it is the designated food bank serving the city of Summerville.

“Companies can now look and say hey, Summerville food bank is the official food bank of Summerville,” said Belanger. “They can donate with charitable contributions and be able to write it off on their taxes and we are really excited about it.”

Belanger knows how much this will help. His mom relied on help like this when he was growing up

“There were times that my mom was working three full time jobs just to keep a roof over our head and put food on our table," said Belanger. "... And some of her stories was she was that mom eating out of the can and we are eating the food that she was working on bringing in and it was kind of tough."

As the organization expands, the goal will remain the same: to feed families and give hope.

The monthly giveaways are on the fourth Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at First Fruits Community Church at 195 Farmington Road in Summerville.

For more information on the Summerville Food Bank website.

Two new retail shops are ready to launch in a Target-anchored shopping center in North Charleston.

“Opening soon” and “Now hiring” signs are posted in front of Advance Auto Parts and Popshelf in North Rivers Towne Center at 7250 Rivers Ave.

They are splitting a formerly 31,433-square-foot vacant space next to a recently opened Buy Buy Baby store. The retail center is owned by LBX Investments of Los Angeles.

Popshelf is a new concept from Dollar General that offers home furnishings, party items, toys and beauty products. It’s geared toward the suburban shopper with a household income between $50,000 and $125,000, higher than Dollar General’s lower-income targeted customers.

Opening dates for the new stores have not been announced.

Tool time

Tool giant Harbor Freight plans to set up shop in Summerville.

The Calabasas, Calif.-based retailer recently signed an extended lease for a 16,000-square-foot structure to be built at 388 E. 5th North St., also known as U.S. Highway 78, about a block south of the Berlin G. Myers Parkway, according to Dorchester County land records.

The 1.43-acre site, owned by Henbell Summerville HFT LLC of Augusta, Ga., sits east of a Spinx convenience store and gas station and next to Sawmill Branch. It also abuts a retail center where Planet Fitness and Palmetto State Armory are located.

Harbor Freight’s lease is for 15 years with five five-year renewal options. The agreement also grants the tenant the first right of refusal to purchase the property.

On the way

In northern Mount Pleasant, Red Bird Hospitality Group LLC plans to open a new Bohemian Bull tavern and beer garden in January in a 6,143-square-foot space at 2668 U.S. Highway 17.

The East Cooper franchise location for the bar and grill is the former site of Carrabba’s Italian Grill. It’s also near the newly opened Cabana Burgers & Shakes at 2664 U.S. Highway 17.

Bohemian Bull’s flagship venue is on Folly Road on James Island. Another restaurant is in Greenville, with a new site coming to Mauldin in the Upstate and another in Grapevine, Texas.

What’s cooking?

A Connecticut-based restaurant specializing in rotisserie chicken is close to opening in the Charleston area.

El Pollo Guapo recently applied for its state alcohol license at 1130 Folly Road on James Island where Black Magic Café operated before closing its last Lowcountry location in September after 13 years.

The new restaurant will offer whole roasted chickens, sides, tacos, rice bowls, salads, desserts and other items.

The company’s website says it plans to open by the end of the year and bring a food truck.

Cleaning up

Not one but two car washes are on the way to the Centre Pointe development in North Charleston.

Whistle Express, part of Charlotte-based Magnolia Wash Holdings, is building its first South Carolina location beside Mellow Mushroom on Tanger Outlet Boulevard while Tommy’s Express plans to take over the former Burger King site at Centre Pointe Drive and Tanger Outlet Boulevard near Walmart and Tanger Outlets.

Michigan-based Tommy’s Express has two other locations in the Charleston area on Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston and Trolley Road in Summerville. Opening dates have not been announced for either location.

Rolling in

A luxury rental transportation business recently added a second U.S. location in Charleston.

Double Black Transportation has set up an office at 310 Broad St. on the peninsula along with an off-site vehicle lot at 1211 Palm St. in Hanahan.

The company’s other location is in Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Case Resor is the owner of both businesses, which offer party buses for weddings, concerts and other social outings.

Fort Dorchester head football coach Steve LaPrad resigned on Wednesday, according to a release by the Dorchester County District 2 public information office.

The district’s office said the district shared the following letter with Fort Dorchester players and their families.

“Dear Fort Dorchester High School football families, I want to make you aware that Fort Dorchester High School has received the resignation of Mr. Steve LaPrad as head football coach.

“We want to thank coach for his many years of dedicated service to the Patriot football program.”

LaPrad spent the last 20 seasons as the head coach at Fort Dorchester, taking over the program after the death of former coach John Bagwell in 2003.

LaPrad’s teams posted a record of 172-70. His 2015 team, led by current South Carolina receiver Dakereon Joyner and current NFL lineman John Simpson, won the Class AAAA state championship. The 2022 team lost to Dutch Fork in the Class AAAAA finals in December.

Prior to his time at Fort Dorchester, LaPrad was a highly successful wrestling coach at Summerville High, leading the program to four state championships and six state runner-up finishes.

LaPrad’s resignation brings to three the number of high-profile coaching vacancies in the Lowcountry. On Tuesday, Berkeley terminated veteran coach Dr. Jerry Brown after two seasons. Brown previously coached Berkeley for 18 seasons, retiring in 2010, but was hired back as coach in 2021.

Brown has 295 career coaching wins and won five state championships, three as head coach at Berkeley. The Stags, however, managed only five wins over the last two seasons.

In September, Hanahan placed head coach Art Craig on leave and later ended his tenure as head coach in his third season. Craig has 229 career coaching wins, most of those coming at Timberland, where he won 193 games in 19 seasons, which include 18 consecutive winning seasons. Craig won two state titles (2011, 2014) at Timberland.

LaPrad, Brown and Craig were three of the winningest active coaches in the state, and also among the highest paid. According to state salary data, Brown was earning $130,000 per year; Craig was at $104,000 per year; and LaPrad’s annual salary was $102,000. LaPrad was the only one of the three to serve also as the athletic director.

Hanahan is currently in the interview process for its next head coach. Assistant Steve Blanchard served as interim head coach after Craig was relieved of his duties.

Jeff Hartsell contributed.

The South Carolina Bar and the Dorchester County Library (DCL) are collaborating in hosting Law Talk on Jan. 26 at the Summerville Library, from 5:30-6:30 p.m., where the topic of the day will be employment law presented by attorneys Brice Ricker and Emily Tong.

Registration isn’t required for this event, per DCL, that will feature a Q&A session at the end of the discussion.

“South Carolina’s employment relationships are ‘at-will,’ which generally means that employers can terminate an employee for any reason, or no reason at all; however, both federal and state law provides exceptions to this foundational rule ... Mrs. Tong and I look forward to helping Dorchester county residents learn about these exceptions and circumstances so that our community has a better understanding of their rights in the employment setting,” said Ricker.

For more information on Law Talk or other programs, contact Elizabeth Neal at 843-871-5075, ext. 212 or [email protected].

Nearly 300 women will combine their energies next month in building a home for a Summerville-based single mom as part of Dorchester Habitat for Humanity’s annual build undertaking inspiring females to get involved in construction in the spirit of creating a forever home for a local family.

This “Women Build” initiative, according to Dorchester Habitat for Humanity Development Director Moriah Hollander, will require more than 2,000 hours to complete, as business partners will assist in the venture by donating construction materials.

“It’s the most fun we have on the build site each year,” Hollander shared. “You can show up never having picked up a hammer and leave knowing how to install trim in your living room.”

“Women Build” participants partaking in the project, says Hollander, will meet and work alongside the prospective home owner during weekend meetings in February.

The 2023 home recipient is Ariell Burgess, a mother of three.

“This house holds endless opportunity, growth, and stability in all areas of our life,” observed Burgess. “I want my kids to know their mom worked hard to build them a home.”

Volunteer Amanda Leviner is excited for what lies ahead and described the annual build as a great bonding experience for women.

“Women’s build was just a day of goodness,” she added. “Serving together but also knowing that that service is producing fruit in someone else’s life. Getting to meet her that day was an extra bonus.”

Those who wish to participate or sponsor this year’s construction activities are invited to to contact [email protected] for further details.