Sports Bar in Summerville, SC

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - A second entrance to The Ponds neighborhood in Summerville is set to start construction later this year, but neighbors say it can’t happen soon enough.

Located off of 17A near Dorchester Road, the Ponds has been home to thousands of residents since construction began in 2007. The neighborhood currently only has one entrance and exit, and because of the number of cars traveling in and out of the neighborhood, safety concerns have been raised for years.

“One of the main things that the folks in The Ponds have been concerned about is just access and safe access,” Dorchester County Councilman Jay Byars says.

A temporary signal was approved back in September at the intersection of Highway 17A and Village Ponds Drive. The county approved the project and the South Carolina Department of Transportation approved it.

The following table was provided by the South Carolina Department of Public Safety which keeps track of crash data:

The data seems to reiterate neighbors’ sentiments in that the traffic light is working.

“That has saved a lot of lives,” Diane Falkenberg, a resident of the neighborhood since 2023, says. “We had a ton of lives get lost over here and cars ruined because of the accidents that happened before we had a light. Now we have a light so the accidents are less but the traffic is the same.”

But that traffic light is temporary.

“The county’s actually working right now on creating a second entrance through Linger Longer Drive, which runs beside the Parker’s gas station, and we are funding that through the county,” Byars says.

That project is going to cost around $2.5 million, and Byars says they are going to start that project later this year. Once that entrance is complete, the Department of Transportation will likely remove the traffic light at the first entrance.

But Falkenberg says traffic in the neighborhood itself can be horrendous during certain times of the day. The main issue she raises is all residents currently have to go through a traffic circle near the current entrance to the neighborhood.

“We can’t all have to go through that same circle,” Falkenberg says. “I’ve been stuck on that road for hours because you couldn’t get out of here. And I had to go over the airport that particular time and I said, ‘I have got to get through.’ Finally, I kind of pushed my way through by going up on the lawn and everything, and I finally did get out, but those other people that were behind me or anywhere near me waited hours.”

Byars says that roundabout was intentional with its placement to try to slow traffic down.

“That is a long neighborhood to get back into the back,” Byars says. “You have people that will fly through a neighborhood. So, you don’t want people driving too fast through a residential neighborhood where you’ve got kids playing. So, that roundabout as well as some of the speed tables that are put in there are put in there to slow people down. So, unfortunately, if you live in the very back right now, it’s just it’s a couple of minutes to get out of there.”

Falkenberg just reiterates she wants that second entrance sooner rather than later.

“This could be done quickly and easily and safely,” Falkenberg says. “That’s what we need. We need it to be safer. There are too many people in here.”

Unfortunately, that second entrance won’t help the time it takes to get to the very back of the neighborhood. A third entrance, which would be on Old Tower Road, is a part of Dorchester County’s capital plan. There is currently an emergency access entrance with a gate on it. Byars says if EMS or law enforcement needs to get through, they can.

But that road is not being opened up to residents yet because the access road is not up to industry standards. Byars says that project is going to be much bigger and likely is at least five years out.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Jean Wolbert, of Summerville, has been named the 2024 South Carolina Queen by TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), a nonprofit weight-loss support organization. Wolbert earned the title after losing 82.5 pounds and reaching her goal weight. She was recognized April 24-26 at the South Carolina TOPS recognition event at the StayBridge Suites in Florence.

TOPS annually honors its top male and female members in each state who achieve the most significant weight loss from their highest recorded weight while maintaining their weight loss goal. The organization, founded in 1948, offers group support, education, and motivation to individuals seeking improved health and weight management.

“All of us affiliated with TOPS are extremely proud of our members’ weight-loss accomplishments,” said Rick Danforth, TOPS President. “Through their TOPS membership, these individuals can commemorate their life-changing successes, other members and those who have preceded them. By continuing their faithfulness to lifestyle alterations, a characteristic of TOPS’ successful formula, TOPS members employ the methods they’re offered and the support of their peers to achieve their weight loss objectives.”

In 2024, TOPS members across South Carolina lost a combined 3,130 pounds. The state currently faces an adult obesity rate of 36%.

Wolbert described her journey in personal terms.

“We all experience ‘life happens’ moments, with ups and downs throughout our lifetime,” she said. “Life is like riding a rollercoaster. One day, you’re going up, then ‘boom,’ you are going straight down, unable to stop.”

She credited TOPS with providing emotional support and practical tools for long-term success.

“When you join TOPS, you make a lifetime decision to lead a healthier life. You learn to take control of your body and mind with the help of your chapter,” she said. “They are there to help you. You are never alone in this journey.”

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) - Following over a decade of planning and months of delays, Dorchester County officially opened a new park designed with conservation and accessibility in mind.

Located off Miles Jamison Road, right in the heart of Summerville, Pine Trace Park is a $13 million investment years in the making.

The land was originally slated for residential development, with plans for up to 900 homes. However, when the developer went into foreclosure during the recession, only a pond remained on the land.

Recognizing the potential of the land, the county stepped in to purchase the property and reimagine it as a natural preserve and public park.

“Ultimately this was a repurposed pond that was dug as part of infrastructure well prior to the conversation about building these homes 15 years ago, but we were able to take that and turn it into something,” David Chinnis, Dorchester County Council Chairman and representative for District 2, said.

But that process has faced a series of setbacks.

Originally set to open in fall last year, the park faced delays caused by weather and supply chain disruptions.

“Mother Nature at times is smarter than any engineer ever thought about being and when they look at things and plan things and then get out and start doing the work, they realize it’s a little bit more complicated,” Chinnis said.

Chinnis understands the frustration over the delayed timeline, especially with schools in Dorchester County starting their semesters last week, but he emphasized that the extra time was necessary to ensure the space was ready and environmentally sound.

“We would’ve loved to have seen it open last fall. That was the initial goal. Doing it right was more important,” Chinnis said.

Now that it’s complete, Pine Trace Park brings several firsts to Dorchester County.

It is home to the county’s first intentionally inclusive playground, offering features that allow children of all abilities to play together.

Amenities include ramped play structures, transfer stations, a RoxAll seesaw, sensory-friendly wave climbers and cozy zones designed for children who may need a break.

The park also features Dorchester County’s first disc golf course, 5 miles of hiking trails, kayak rentals and launches, a pond stocked with bluegill and bass for fishing, fenced-in dog parks and reservable picnic shelters and event spaces.

Chinnis said the park’s natural feel is intentional, with minimal paved pathways and a design that prioritizes green space and natural features over infrastructure and development.

As a native of the Lowcountry himself, Chinnis said he remembers playing in the beautiful landscapes surrounding the area. He says rather than having pickleball courts and splash pads, like he’s heard some residents request, keeping the current atmosphere of the park is what makes it especially unique.

“It’s intentionally meant to be natural and not a developed park,” he said. “Over time, we may do some changes to that, but I think it’s intentional to be able to have this.”

He said this coincides with Dorchester County’s commitment to conservation.

“We’ve contributed $4 million to conservation with the State Forestry Commission and have preserved more than 3,000 acres… we’re not done yet,” Chinnis said.

Chinnis hopes families will come to enjoy the park’s natural beauty. For those interested in doing so, the ribbon cutting for the park is Thursday at 9:30 a.m.

Admission is free to the public for the day. Going forward, though, admission will be $2 for anyone over the age of three. County residents have the option to purchase an annual park pass for $42.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Go on vacation at a beach town in South Carolina. Check.

Buy lottery tickets, including several Powerball games for advanced, future draws. Check.

Watch the results of drawings into the next month. Check.

Triumphantly return to the Palmetto State in July to cash in a six-figure winning Powerball ticket and collect the prize. Check.

One man recently completed this unlikely checklist, narrowly missing out winning Powerball’s multi-million dollar grand prize, according to South Carolina Education Lottery officials. Still, what better way to commemorate a vacation then collecting a $150,000 Powerball jackpot as a consolation prize?

“It was fantastic,” the winner told officials. “It was like icing on the cake.”

The winner was vacationing at the beach in May, when he stopped on his way home to get gas at the Speedway on North Main Street in Summerville, officials said in a news release. He also bought a Powerball ticket for several future drawings, according to the release.

In July the man traveled back to South Carolina, to the claims center in Columbia, to cash in the ticket that came within one number of winning the Powerball grand prize on June 21.

The winning numbers in the June 21 drawing were 3, 16, 32, 52, 62 and Powerball: 24.

Because he purchased the Power Play option for an additional dollar, his initial $50,000 prize was tripled when the Power Play number was revealed to be 3, officials said.

The odds of matching four white ball numbers and the red Powerball number were 1-in-913,129, according to the release.

The man didn’t reveal any plans for spending his newfound windfall.

The winner is allowed to retain some privacy, as South Carolina is one of 11 states — along with Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia — that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.

For selling the claimed ticket, the Speedway in Summerville received a commission of $1,500, according to the release.

The jackpot for Monday’s Powerball drawing is $426 million, according to the game’s website.

Anyone looking to buy a ticket must make a purchase by 9:59 p.m. Monday for the 10:59 p.m. drawing. Tickets are $2, and could cost more with additional options.

The odds of winning Powerball’s grand prize are 1-in-293 million.