Sports Bar in Dorchester, SC

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - The Dorchester County Emergency Management department is ensuring volunteers know what to do during emergencies through a semiannual training program.

Dorchester community volunteers are participating in “CERT,” which stands for Community Emergency Response Team training. The training is part of a national initiative supported by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which prepares volunteers with disaster skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and medical tips.

Dorchester County’s free class series runs from March 20 to May 10. Each class ranges from general disaster knowledge and first aid to search and rescue tactics.

Thomas McNeal, the director of the County’s emergency department, says people in the community generally want to help first responders during emergencies. McNeal says CERT is an opportunity to actively prepare the community for critical moments before first responders arrive on scene.

“Whether it’s to first responders coming into a house fire in your neighborhood, all the way up to a major disaster,” McNeal says. “We see the green shirts and the hard hats and we know that they’re one of ours. That we’ve trained them and they’re going to have useful information that we told them how to gather to present to the first responders that will speed up that emergency response process.”

Trained volunteers are typically dressed in green. This signals their training experience.

McNeal says these community members have an opportunity to participate in an extra class this year. The extra course focuses on how volunteers can help their community during major weather disasters such as passing out food and water supplies.

“Volunteerism throughout the nation is hurting for people,” McNeal says. “Not as many people have stepped up over the more recent years, whether it’s organizations like the Red Cross or many others. They just don’t have the cadre that they used to have. So, this is a way for people that want to help but unsure how.”

The classes take place at the Dorchester County Emergency Operations Center along Deming Way in Summerville. Volunteers can still sign up ahead of the first class March 20 through this link or email [email protected] with questions.

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DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office says a man who was living in the country without permission could face deportation after being accused of scamming homeowners.

Marcos Arthur Pinheiro, 31, is charged with obtaining goods under false pretenses and forgery, sheriff’s spokesman Steven Wright said.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division coordinated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials for a detainer to be placed on him as well, Wright said.

“Let me be abundantly clear: If anyone attempts to steal from the citizens of this county, we will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law,” Dorchester County Sheriff Sam Richardson said. “If you are here illegally, we will use every available resource to hold you accountable and deport you. I have no tolerance for those who wish to violate the trust of our citizens.”

Deputies received a complaint on Pinheiro in January that accused him of “violating a construction contract by fabricating unexpected expenses, delays, and manufacturing issues, which led to him depriving the victim of approximately $45,000,” Wright said.

Investigators say Pinheiro took on contracts with multiple people in the Tri-County area, completed initial demolition and then absconded with the homeowners’ funds.

“It is estimated that Pinheiro has stolen tens of thousands of dollars from different victims across the Tri-County area,” Wright said. “He has carried out similar scams using the company identity of a former employer as well as fabricating multiple LLCs with the intent of gaining the trust of homeowners to initiate his scams.”

Deputies said victims provided multiple documents Pinheiro gave them that included fraudulent tax documents, insurance liability coverage, employer identification numbers and passports. Investigators say they were able to confirm Pinheiro did not have permission to be in the United States through a review of the documents.

Wright said a tip led to Pinheiro’s arrest.

Pinheiro was booked into the L.C. Knight Detention Center on Wednesday, according to jail records.

A judge set bond at a total of $40,000 on the two charges, but as of Thursday afternoon, he was still being held at the jail.

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DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Dorchester County and the Town of Summerville have worked together for over a year to make sure some commutes are much safer for their residents.

For those grabbing a bite to eat at McDonald’s or needing some cash at Truist Bank at the Old Trolley Road Extension, some may have noticed it is a lot less of a bumpy ride.

Dorchester County Council Chairman David Chinnis says it was once home to many potholes.

“Most of the commentary I’ve seen about it is it was way past due and I think we would agree with that without question,” Chinnis said.

Extending a quarter of a mile to where Old Trolley Road meets Ladson Road, Dorchester County and the Town of Summerville has put the pedal to the metal to get it repaved. The quarter of a million dollar-project was majority funded by the Oakbrook Tax Increment Financing District and the rest from county transportation funds.

“It’s important because it’s all done without tax increases,” Chinnis said. “It’s ultimately done, allowing development to pay for itself.”

And this isn’t the only project completed or soon to be completed by the TIF. These funds have also gone towards the Oakbrook Sports Complex, the Ladson Fire and EMS station and the Summerville Preserve.

Chinnis says it will soon cover things like new lights on Old Trolley Road. Plus, Town of Summerville Councilmember Bob Jackson says another road improvement in the same area is being looked at.

“We’re also talking about Ladson Road and Old Trolley Road and putting in some medians and kind of directing traffic there, so we don’t have so many crossing accidents,” Jackson said.

Chinnis says even just repaving a road is just more of a gateway for more businesses to come to Dorchester County.

“I think the biggest thing is it shows the way what we can accomplish when collaboration happens,” Chinnis said. “Everybody is getting something that they want. This was not in the initial plan, but it ended up being a great opportunity to help the town with a funding shortfall to make this thing work.”

Folks are now able to get behind the wheel on the extension yet again but are asked to drive with caution.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.