Junk Removal in Bluffton, SC

COLUMBIA — Chloe Kitts feels the most at peace on an empty gym floor.

When the South Carolina women's basketball freshman can't sleep or just needs to get out of her head, she takes the minute-long walk from her dorm to the Gamecocks' practice facility. She works out on her own, sometimes until 2 or 3 a.m., finding a meditative state the in echoing bounce of the ball and electric hum of the fluorescent lights.

"I prefer working out late ... I just have a lot of thoughts, and working out makes it better," Kitts said. "It's my alone time for sure ... I'll have the whole gym for a couple hours and I'll shoot, then lay on the floor, then shoot. I love it alone."

But the solitude doesn't always offer solace. Kitts signed with the Gamecocks' 2023 class but decided to enroll early in late December. Jumpstarting her career puts Kitts in an unusual position: She's behind compared to the the 2022 freshman class but is now months ahead of the other signees in her year.

The freshman joined the Gamecocks' roster fewer than six weeks after announcing her commitment Nov. 4. She was a five-star prospect ranked No. 17 in the 2023 class, and her father Jason barely introduced the discussion of early enrollment until after Kitts picked South Carolina.

Jason runs a non-profit organization focused on youth basketball development in Central Florida, so his experience led him to advocate for Kitts arriving ahead of schedule.

"I absolutely wanted Chloe Kitts at South Carolina this year so she could understand what the roles and the leadership looks like at that level," Jason said. "Is it hard? Absolutely. But that's part of the process of understanding that hard is going to lead to bigger and better things."

The move was unprecedented, especially because of the Gamecocks' already-deep roster. In the first nine games, coach Dawn Staley played all 13 players in four games, and her rotation was fewer than 12 just once. Kitts made an impressive debut with 10 points, seven rebounds and two steals in her first appearance against Charleston Southern on Dec. 18, but the freshman's confidence started to waver early in SEC play.

"When I first got here, that first game I felt confident but ... I'm very hard on myself," Kitts said. "I expect a lot from myself, so when I'm not doing very good I have a lot of negative talk. I've always been like that, but it's kind of gotten worse. (Staley) always tells me turn the page, don't be scared when you're out there and it's OK to make mistakes."

Jason said the biggest challenge of the process for Chloe is her playing time. The 6-foot-2 forward has appeared in 10 of 14 games she was eligible for, averaging nine minutes. She averages 2.5 points and 2.6 rebounds per game.

"It is what it is when you're on the No. 1 team in the country ... You have McDonald's All-Americans that are sophomores that are playing few minutes a game," Jason said. "The (Alabama) game, Chloe didn't get in, but her mindset and demeanor that we saw on the bench were great. At the beginning of January, she was still in that mental state of not really figuring things out yet. Now, it's like, 'OK, I'm here and I'm just going to continue to keep working.'"

Kitts has also grown comfortable in Columbia thanks to her friendship with senior Olivia Thompson. The pair initially connected on the Gamecocks' road trip to South Dakota State, two days after Kitts officially enrolled.

"I was sitting next to her and she just starts picking on me. I was like, 'I don't even know you,'" Thompson laughed. "There was a sub and she didn't stand up. She was like the only one who didn't stand up, and she hit me and was like why didn't you tell me to stand up? She's a funny kid."

Thompson often takes Kitts on errands — they love to hit Ulta Beauty and Whole Foods — just to have her company. Thompson understands some of the isolated feelings Kitts experienced. She committed to the Gamecocks as a walk-on among the elite 2019 class of current starters Aliyah Boston, Zia Cooke, Brea Beal and Victaria Saxton.

"It took me until my sophomore year to get comfortable really being free, but she's very comfortable within herself," Thompson said. "She's very mentally strong, and that's something you have to be to be successful, especially in this program."

As much as she values her alone time in the gym, Kitts is ready for the rest of her class to arrive on campus. She knows that she will need to be the kind of support system for them that Thompson has been for her.

"I want to be a great teammate, because when the freshmen come next year, I'm someone they're going to look up to for help, because ... I know exactly how they're going to feel," Kitts said. "I need to get better at that as well, so I'm just trying to take in everything the seniors are saying to me."

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - Prom season is approaching, and that means many high school students will soon be preparing for the big day by going dress and suit shopping. The cost of participating in the milestone can sometimes put a strain on wallets. A local organization is collecting gently used dresses and accessories to hand out to students for free in Beaufort, Jasper, and Hampton Counties. WTOC spoke with a volunteer who says you could be one lucky girl’s fairy godmother.

Jessica Dubose , the chairwoman for the prom boutique of the Junior Service League of Beaufort said picking a prom dress is a special moment in a teenage girl’s life.

She said she always looks forward to the boutique they have been putting together for the past 12 years.

“Just getting to see them come out with a dress on that they love and the realization that they get to take that for free and they don’t have to worry about their family having to pay for it.”

She said she thinks that every student who wants to go to prom should have the opportunity to feel like a princess without the price.

“Some of these girls would not be able to go to prom unless they get to come to our event.”

Students like Kiwa Bertholf, who attended the Junior Service League of Beaufort boutique last year, said that she can’t wait to attend this year’s event.

For this year’s prom, Kiwa wanted to wear a dress that makes a statement for her senior year.

“I think I want something kinda dramatic something very senior year, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity kind of thing. So I think I’m just gonna go in a pick a dress that I like and love it,” said Kiwa.

Jessica said that she thinks Kiwa will be able to find what she is looking for with donations from the community.

“There are so many to choose from. There are long there are short they have all over it is not just one type of dress.”

Dubose says it takes a community effort.

Her favorite part is seeing the smile on the girls’ faces when they leave.

Any student who needs a dress and accessories can attend the boutique and all they need is to bring their school ID.

It will be held on March 4th at Bridges Preparatory School in Beaufort from 1 pm to 4 pm. If you would like to donate a dress or accessories, you can drop them off at the following locations:

City Java and News – Beaufort 301 Carteret St, Beaufort, SC 29902

Kinghorn Insurance – Beaufort 910 Carteret St, Beaufort, SC 29901

Tabby Shore Boutique – Beaufort 101 West Street Extension, Beaufort, SC 29902

Tidal Creek Fellowship Church – Beaufort 290 Brickyard Point Rd S, Beaufort, SC 29907

Inner Peace Spa – Bluffton 48 Pennington Drive, Bluffton, SC 29910

Lux Medical Spa- Bluffton 350 Fording Island Rd #101, Bluffton, SC 29910

Pink Magazine – HHI 37 New Orleans Rd UNIT M, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928

Copyright 2023 WTOC. All rights reserved.

High school students in the Jasper County School District will soon have an opportunity to obtain a new skill, one that could lead to a career in transportation.

The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) Commercial Driver License Training Program for high school students will allow them to acquire a Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL) with Passenger and School Bus endorsements, along with SCDE School Bus Driver Certification, according to a district news release.

Jasper County School District Public Information Officer Travis Washington said the idea for the training program came from the SC Department of Transportation, due to driver shortages across the state. He said the training program is in its infancy, and districts across SC were contacted regarding interest in piloting the program.

"The district, due to the driver shortages experienced, was open to piloting the program to ensure that students had the opportunity to receive the certifications, but also to create a pipeline of drivers that could benefit the district and community," Washington said.

Though Washington said Jasper was not the only district that was approached by the SC Department of Transportation, it is the first district to move forward with piloting the program. He said the training is provided at no charge to students.

"The program will be offered on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the last block of the day," Washington said. "Currently, students who are early release students will participate in the first cohort. Moving forward, any interested student will be scheduled accordingly. In addition, a cohort is being planned for the summer."

Washington said once the program gets under way next school year, students will receive an elective credit for successfully completing it. The also will receive a blue and yellow cord at graduation.

The SCDE School Bus Driver Training Curriculum is designed to meet all Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) and SCDE requirements, as well as assisting candidates in preparing for written exams they will take at the DMV to acquire a Commercial Learner Permit (CLP) and driving tests required for CDL and SCDE School Bus Driver certification, the district said.

Within the program, students will receive training that meets the ELDT requirements established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), according to the district. This includes classroom (theory) training and behind-the-wheel (skills) training for a Class B Commercial Driver's License (CDL), passenger transport and school bus training, the district said.

Students will also be enrolled in the SCDE School Bus Driver Classroom and Behind-the-Wheel Training and Testing Curriculum, the district said. When the curriculum is completed, it will allow them to operate a school bus or activity bus in South Carolina.

While drivers must be 18 years old to acquire a CLP and a CDL, they can complete ELDT theory requirements prior to reaching that age as long as they pass the CDL driving test within 12 months of completing ELDT theory training, the district said.

To be eligible for the program, students must have a valid driver’s license and at least one year of driving experience. They must also have no more than four points on their current driving record, and no more four points within the past year.

In addition, participants must pass a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations-(FMCSR) required physical exam and before any training begins, they must also pass a drug test.

"Jasper County School District's Elite Driver's Program is important because it provides students with a valuable skillset that supports a growing market related to logistics and transportation," Washington said. "It also provides an option for the district to employ its graduates to join a winning team as an employee by creating a pipeline of talented drivers who can assist with safely transporting students to and from school."

Bluffton, SC - Holliday Home Improvements, based in Bluffton, South Carolina, offers different types of Front Door Replacement for every home.

The top entry door installer offers high-quality, durable, beautiful, and energy-efficient replacement doors that can be custom-built for any home. "We design, install, guarantee, and service your windows & doors without a middleman. We do it all, with endless custom options," the company claims.

The Bluffton-based company says there are several materials to choose from when replacing front doors.

The most durable and best in aesthetics are wood doors. However, these doors require high maintenance and are more costly than other materials. So when choosing wood front door replacements, experts advised choosing the ones constructed from wood-veneer skins and engineered-wood core, which reduces damages.

Another preferred material for front doors, especially for residential properties, is steel. It is cost-effective, offers security, and resists harsh weather conditions like strong winds. Maintenance is also less expensive for steel doors.

Fiberglass is also becoming a popular option as a front door replacement. They have smooth skin, making painting a one-touch job. These doors are also energy-efficient, need little maintenance, and resist wear and tear. Some homeowners use aluminum residential doors. It's an excellent choice to withstand rust and also for longevity.

The Best Home Improvement Company In Bluffton, SC assures to help homeowners pick the right front door materials.

They are known as top entry door installers in SC for their genuine service. The firm is licensed and employs experts that meet industry requirements. Holliday Home Improvements also guarantees the best tools and equipment. Their work mirrors their reputation. Interested parties may view their prior work on the company’s website.

Holliday Home Improvements emphasizes client satisfaction. Thus, they maintain affordable installation rates for most of their services. In addition, they have maintained their partnership with the nation's leading entrance door manufacturers to deliver outstanding services. Sunrise, Provia, and Soft-lite Windows & Doors are among their partners. These manufacturers all have outstanding products and warranties.

Front door replacement quotes are free from the door replacement business. They consistently give written quotations and items that match clients' needs and budgets.

https://youtu.be/6qQRe7tWwSM

Front Door Installation information is available at https://hhiwindows.com/. People can also consult Holliday Home Improvements by calling (843) 689-2140 in Bluffton, SC. Holliday Home Improvements' showroom is at 138 Burnt Church Road, Suite I, Bluffton, SC 29910.

For more information about Holliday Home Improvements, contact the company here:

Holliday Home Improvements Jason Holliday (843) 689-2140 hhsusanholliday@gmail.com 138 Burnt Church Road Suite I Bluffton, SC 29910

A new heart doctor based in Hilton Head is now serving patients throughout Beaufort, Jasper and surrounding areas, according to a Hilton Head Regional Physician's Network news release.

Dr. John W. Perry was recently introduced as the network's newest cardiothoracic surgeon, joining Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Associates. The network provides primary and specialty healthcare services at offices in Hilton Head, Bluffton, Okatie, Hardeeville, Hampton, Beaufort and Lady’s Island.

Perry will be serving within Hilton Head Hospital as well as Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville.

“Dr. Perry brings a diverse skill set of contemporary cardiac surgery techniques, as well as an incredible passion to care for his patients to the Hilton Head Regional Physician Network,” Tyler Sherrill, CEO of physician operations for South Carolina and senior regional director of physician operations, said in a news release.

Perry is a graduate of Syracuse University and received his doctorate of medicine from the State University of New York in Buffalo, New York, the news release said. He completed his general surgery residency at the State University of New York, followed by his residency in thoracic surgery at the State University of New York in Brooklyn. He then completed a fellowship in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio.

"I first visited the Lowcountry in 2002," Perry said. "My wife and I at the time loved it so much that we came back almost every year for 17 years. We called Hilton Head Island our second home and wanted to retire here. I consider it a privilege to have been selected by Hilton Head Regional Healthcare to practice here as a cardiothoracic surgeon."

In addition to performing surgeries to treat a variety of cardiothoracic conditions, some of his special interests include complex aortic reconstructions, aortic and mitral valve surgery, treatment for venous disease, and minimally invasive techniques for cardiac and thoracic surgery, the network said.

Perry said his initial interest was in orthopedic surgery; however, during his internship in general surgery, he crossed paths with a cardiac surgeon.

"I admired their tenacity and sense of detail, and I was drawn to their very clean-cut authoritative, strong, and assertive demeanor," Perry said. "Having a background in aerospace and mechanical engineering, the practice of cardiac surgery was a great fit for me. Everything seemed to make sense and align."

Perry said a year-long research opportunity in 1991 in cardiac surgery at the VA Medical Center in Buffalo, New York, led to his current profession.

With Perry's services available to more rural areas in the Lowcountry, he said, many patients will benefit.

"My cardiology colleagues had an old saying, “Time is muscle," he said. "The timely intervention for cardiac emergencies is critical, and cardiology and cardiac surgery resources are essential for patients' survival and are determinant of their long-term outcome and well-being. Having these resources available at Hilton Head Hospital and in the Lowcountry means more saved lives."

February is also recognized by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute as American Heart Month and highlights ways in which people can understand the risk factors for heart disease. Perry offered several tips on staying heart healthy.

"Prevention is the most important area to focus on when it comes to good heart health," he said. "The well-recognized risk factors for heart disease include hypertension, hypercholesterolemia (LDL or bad cholesterol being too high), diabetes, smoking, and family history of heart disease. Moderation is always key. Eat well; exercise; aggressively treat underlying risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol; and discontinue smoking (especially if one has any of the other risk factors)."