Junk Removal in Ladson, SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Elbit Systems of America, LLC, a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd., today announced plans to establish operations in Charleston County. The project will create approximately 300 new jobs.

Founded in 1983, Elbit Systems of America, LLC is a leading provider of high-performance products and system solutions focusing on the defense, homeland security, commercial aviation and medical instrumentation sectors.

Located at 9028 Palmetto Commerce Parkway in North Charleston, Elbit Systems of America, LLC’s new facility will increase the company’s manufacturing capacity and support future growth for new products.

The new facility is expected to be operational by fall 2022. Individuals interested in joining the Elbit Systems of America, LLC team should visit the company’s careers webpage.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to this project. Charleston County was also awarded a $700,000 Set-Aside grant to assist with costs related to this project.

QUOTES

“This is an exciting milestone for Elbit America, building on decades of investment and growth in the U.S. defense market. Establishing this facility is part of a strategy to increase Elbit’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities in the U.S. and contribute to strengthening America’s defense industrial base. We selected South Carolina due to its strong support for economic development, the availability of skilled workforce and the existence of a robust supply chain.” -Elbit Systems of America President & CEO Raanan Horowitz

“Elbit Systems of America, LLC’s decision to create approximately 300 jobs within South Carolina is a huge win for Charleston County and the entire state. This project is an example of what we are capable of as members of Team S.C. We are excited to welcome this company and look forward to supporting them for many years to come.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“South Carolina continues to show itself as extremely competitive for companies looking to set up new operations. Elbit Systems of America, LLC’s decision to locate its new facility in South Carolina is another sign that our state’s business-friendly climate, skilled workforce and exceptional market access are working to attract investments that create new jobs within our borders.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“Charleston County is fortunate to have Elbit Systems of America, LLC join the ranks of our growing innovative ecosystem. We work hard each day to make our community business-friendly, resulting in the attraction of private investment and the creation of new job opportunities for our citizens.” -Charleston County Council Chairman Teddie Pryor

“The Port of Charleston is the nation’s most productive and efficient port. Charleston’s globally-connected infrastructure, robust defense sector, established automotive supply chain and reputation as a talent magnet influenced the company’s decision to locate here to better serve its customers. Elbit Systems of America, LLC will be a tremendous asset to our thriving defense, automotive and advanced manufacturing clusters.” -Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board Chairman Mike Fuller

COLUMBIA, S.C. – TELUS International, a customer experience innovator that designs, builds and delivers digital solutions for global brands, today announced plans to establish operations in Charleston County. The $3.4 million initial investment will create approximately 1,200 new jobs by 2022.

TELUS International provides multilingual digital customer experience and digital IT solutions to clients all over the world. The company has over 56,000 team members, operates in more than 25 countries and partners with brands across high-growth industry verticals, including: technology and games; communications and media; eCommerce and fintech; healthcare and travel; and hospitality. In the United States, TELUS International also has operations in Folsom, California and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Located at 3450 Ingleside Boulevard in North Charleston, TELUS International’s new facility will increase the company’s operating capacity to meet growing customer demand.

TELUS International is currently welcoming team members into the new facility. Individuals interested in joining TELUS International should visit the company’s careers webpage.

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development has approved job development credits related to the project.

QUOTES

“We are thrilled to be expanding into North Charleston and tapping into the region’s attractive talent pool to support our company’s continued growth, as well as becoming more actively involved in the months and years ahead in community giving and volunteer initiatives to contribute to the health and well-being of the region’s citizens." -TELUS International Chief Operating Officer Chuck Koskovich

“We’re excited to welcome TELUS International to South Carolina and celebrate their decision to do business in our state. By creating approximately 1,200 new jobs in Charleston County, this company is making a commitment to the entire community that will make a real difference in the lives of South Carolinians, and we couldn’t be more excited.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“Today, we congratulate TELUS International on the announcement of their first South Carolina operations. This $3.4 million initial investment and the creation of more than 1,200 new jobs represent a tremendous win for Charleston County and South Carolina.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“We continue to prove ourselves as a destination to call on for business growth. This is a significant win for Charleston County, and we are thrilled with the addition of 1,200 jobs for our citizens.” -Charleston County Council Chair Teddie Pryor

"Our three-county region is a globally competitive destination for business, talent and entrepreneurs. TELUS International selected Charleston for its competitive advantages and business-friendly environment. This international company will be an important part of our market's growing global economy and IT community, and we look forward to its continued success." -Charleston Regional Development Alliance Board Chair Mike Fuller

LADSON, S.C. (WCSC) - Allison Lotz of Ladson has three children, including a 3-and-a-half-month-old baby boy.

Her son needs specialized formula because he has a milk protein intolerance. Over the past month, she said shelves have been bare.

“The second I wake up in the morning, I log on to Amazon, Target, and all the local grocery stores and Walmart to check to see if they have anything in stock,” Lotz said. “Then typically I will visit a few stores during the day. I have family that lives right here in town and there have been times we have gone to 20 stores in a day.”

The formula shortage began because of a combination of supply chain issues and the closure of an Abbott Nutrition plant.

Lotz said she depends on the community’s help to find the formula in stock. She’s a member of the Facebook group “Formula Finders Charleston, SC,” a group of 1,700 members. Members post when and where they find certain formulas to try to help others who need them.

“I have lost a lot of sleep. I have cried many tears over, you know, what do you do if you can’t find it,” Lotz said. “Like when we get to the point where we are to our last bottle, what do you do?”

But even if she can find two or three bottles on the shelf, it doesn’t give her a break from the search because her son drinks one 32-ounce bottle a day.

“It should never be this hard to feed your baby,” Lotz said. “You don’t have other options. They have to drink formula. So when you can’t find it, what can you do?”

She said bottles are also “astronomically expensive.”

She said sometimes it could cost upwards of $20 a bottle, and sometimes you have to pay steep shipping fees if you’re getting it from far away.

Dr. Sean Loudin, a neonatologist from Roper St. Francis Healthcare, said things soon could get better. He said over the last month, production has increased and we’ve received shipments of formula from European countries.

“I think we are about to see improvement,” Loudin said. “I know they had said at the beginning of July is when we should expect to have the store shelves look close to normal, it won’t be completely pre-pandemic levels, but they should start to have a supply on the shelves.”

For resources, Loudin said parents should first consult their pediatrician.

Parents can also log on to the websites for the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Former Clemson/current University of Miami receiver Frank Ladson will likely be among a rare group of players who by the end of 2022 can say they played for one team, transferred to a program they previously faced, then faced their original team after transferring.

“I missed home,’’ said the 6-4, 205-pound Ladson, a fourth-year junior who was rated as high as a five-star prep receiver (PrepStar) and four-star wideout by other major recruiting sites when he played at Homestead South Dade High School. “It was time to come home.’’

Not only has Ladson caught passes from No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Trevor Lawrence, he’s now catching passes from projected first-round pick Tyler Van Dyke.

He’s also the second UM transfer receiver in as many years who has competed in the College Football Playoff. Ladson’s Tigers lost to LSU in the Jan. 13, 2020, national championship game following the 2019 season. Though Ladson participated, he didn’t record any stats. After the 2020 season, Ladson’s Tigers lost to Ohio State in a national semifinal. He caught one pass for 9 yards.

Charleston Rambo, who set UM’s single-season school receiving record in 2021 (1,172 yards and seven touchdowns on 79 catches) and is now battling for an NFL spot with the Carolina Panthers, played in the 2019 and 2020 College Football Playoff.

“Some of the guys asked me about it. Like, ‘What’s the biggest game you ever played in? The loudest game you ever played in?’ Ladson said Thursday after the the sixth day of fall camp and first session in full pads. “It’s just a different type of atmosphere. You’re in the playoff [and] you’re playing for a championship. At the end of the game they bring a stage out and confetti falls.”

Ladson, whose Clemson career was marred by consecutive seasons of sports hernia injuries which he said necessitated two surgeries — one on each side — said he’s now healthy, fighting for a starting spot and doing everything he can to become the big-bodied receiver the Hurricanes need.

“I ask Frank questions all the time,’’ said Canes wideout Key’Shawn Smith, another dominant pass-catcher on the outside. “It’s nice to have a big type of receiver like him, because we don’t have that. We got stretch-the-ball or stretch-the-field speed. To have a big receiver like him for the red zone is good to have.’’

Ladson’s transfer marked the third time since 2019 that UM has gotten an elite receiver from the portal. Besides Rambo, the other time was KJ Osborn, now with the Minnesota Vikings, in 2019.

“It’s cool to come home, right?” said ACC Network analyst Eric McClain, a former Clemson offensive lineman who watched practice Thursday. “There’s a bunch of stuff with the transfer portal that I kind of feel bad about, but that’s a good one. There are times when guys just need fresh starts, guys just need to go home.

“I hope and pray he’ll blossom here, because he’s a heck of a player — unbelievable talent.’’

Ladson started four games for Clemson in 2021, tallying four catches for 19 yards before he had to undergo his second surgery. In 2020, Ladson caught 18 passes for 281 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games, four of them starts despite multiple injuries.

“It was kind of like one injury carried over to both years,’’ he said. “It’s great now. It was healed even before I came to Miami [for spring practice]. “ He said it’s been a good experience “learning from a new coach and being around a new group of guys.’’

Ladson was an All-American at South Dade and rated the No. 23 player in USA Today’s “Chosen 25” national high school rankings The 247Sports composite ranking had him as the nation’s No. 7 wideout and 39th best player, regardless of position. He earned his degree in communications at Clemson in three years.

Ladson lauded Miami coach Mario Cristobal and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney. “Great coaches. Both are real big on culture and putting the work in.”

Swinney told the Miami Herald at the ACC media days last month that he was “really proud” of Ladson. “I’m disappointed he wasn’t able to really enjoy the fruits of his labor and talents at Clemson because he was hurt,’’ Swinney said. “But he graduated, a really smart kid. Hopefully he can stay healthy and have the type of year he’s capable of having and wants to have.’’

As for his similarities in Lawrence and Van Dyke, Ladson said they were both students of the game, perfectionists, wanting the best for their teammates and “demanding that from everybody” around them.

He said he appreciated Van Dyke coming into the receivers’ meetings from time to time. “That’s been great. He’s the quarterback. Whatever he wants he gets. It’s like, ‘What you thinking about this route? How do you want me to come out on this?’... Angles, coming out of the route, ball placement, stuff like that.

“I love to get the feedback. The whole room loves it.’’

His goals this season? “Just to win as many games as we can,’’ he said. “Put in the work and everything is going to fall in place.’’

This story was originally published August 11, 2022 3:21 PM.

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Dorchester County Fire Station 21 on Ladson Road is now closed while construction begins on a major remodel.

The $3.3 million project will see the station completely demolished and reoriented so the building faces the road.

Fire Chief Tres Atkinson says the new station is part of the county’s strategy for redeveloping the Oakbrook area. He says the new station will have four bays, office space, living quarters and at least six bunkrooms.

“This is a big deal for this area. I think not so much for the call volume but just the way this area is growing and the way it looks,” Atkinson said. “We really need to make it fit the ticket for the remodel of the Oakbrook area. We really need to make this more aesthetically pleasing, and I think it’s a win for both sides - for the fire service and for the community as well.”

It will also feature a weight room and a dedicated area for turnout gear. This is a decontamination area to purge gear of harmful chemicals picked up during fire calls. Many of those chemicals are carcinogenic, meaning they can cause to cancer.

The project is currently $300,000 over the original budget with construction expected to be completed sometime next year, although a more specific timeline is not yet available. In the meantime, the fire trucks and ambulances have been moved to other areas.

That has some people living in the area concerned.

“The new station will be great in the long run, but I am just concerned that they were not planning their coverage in the meantime,” said Fred K. “There are numerous apartment buildings being constructed within a half mile from here. How are we going to have the same coverage while this construction is going on?”

Atkinson says they moved the fire engines to Station 22, about four miles away. They transferred EMS services to a Summerville fire station one mile away.

“We worked with our automatic aid partners in Summerville and North Charleston,” Atkinson said. “North Charleston has two stations right close by. . . There really won’t be a big impact to the response times.”

Fred’s concern isn’t about distance so much as it is about traffic.

“I’ve seen EMS have to drive over the concrete medians they put down on Dorchester Road. It’s not too easy for them to get down this way in heavy traffic,” Fred said. “The areas they have to go through are some of the most congested traffic in Dorchester County up here on Ladson Road and Dorchester Road. There’s so much more traffic here than there used to be even from just a few years ago. "

Atkinson says they’ve done the math and can guarantee there will not be a noticeable change in response times.

“We’ll be on scene very quickly,” Atkinson said. “It’ll be a big truck, a big red truck and it might say North Charleston or Summerville or Dorchester County on it but we’ll be there in a timely manner.”

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.