Dram Shop Injury Attorney in Lancaster, SC

LANCASTER, S.C. (WBTV) - On Tuesday, voters in Lancaster considered a sales tax increase that county leaders have said will help fund transportation projects across Lancaster County.

UPDATE:

WBTV spoke with voters who said they have seen the growth in the county. Some believe growth is inevitable, while others say they want to see it slow. But almost everyone agreed that they want county leaders to address ongoing traffic concerns.

“Oh, it’s expanding more than I could’ve thought when I moved to 17 years ago,” said Indian Land resident Alicia Wesseling.

In 2024, voters turned down the sales tax referendum -- but it was back on the ballots on Tuesday, Nov. 4. Voters throughout the Carolinas cast ballots on Tuesday in local municipal elections.

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The Lancaster sales tax referendum was proposing a 1% increase that would collect $253 million to fund transportation projects.

Some Lancaster County residents were eager about growth.

“It’s needed,” said Indian Land resident Keith Hassell. “You know, change is good -- but I think not to change too fast.”

“I’ve seen it for a while actually. I’m excited about it. I think it’s overdue,” said Lancaster resident Elaine J. McKinney. “I think that Lancaster is a great place to grow, and coming down from Charlotte, we’re seeing it.”

Other residents shared that they want to see the growth happen slowly.

“I believe we should put a little bit more time and effort into what is planned for this area and what’s approved,” said Patrick Hurley, who lives in Indian Land.

The county sales tax would rise to 9% and expire after 10 years. Voters were also asked if they would allow the county to borrow funds through bonds to get started on the transportation projects and to be repaid after 10 years with the help of the transportation sales tax revenue.

Most residents share that they want to see the increase in traffic addressed.

“I commute up to Charlotte, and you can just see the traffic flows are just much more heavier,” said Lancaster resident Mike Stallone. “We’ve been here for about 10 years and it’s just exploded.“

“Whether it’s roundabout, anything like that that, will help with the traffic, because it’s ridiculous coming off of Johnson Road and then coming down here. It takes two-to-three-times longer than it did a few years ago,” Alicia Wesseling said.

LANCASTER, S.C. (WBTV) - Voters in Lancaster County on Tuesday rejected a transportation sales tax referendum for a second time.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, voters in Lancaster County, South Carolina voted against a transportation sales tax referendum in the 2025 municipal general elections. Lancaster County voters turned down the sales tax referendum in 2024, as well.

With 100% of precincts reporting Tuesday night, tallies showed more than 67% of voters opposed the referendum, while more than 32% were in favor of it.

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County leaders said money from the proposed 1% sales tax increase would’ve been used to help fund transportation projects across Lancaster County. The increase was projected to have collected $253 million to fund those projects.

WBTV spoke with voters who said they have seen the growth in the county. Some believe growth is inevitable, while others say they want to see it happen more slowly.

But almost everyone agreed that they want county leaders to address ongoing traffic concerns.

“It’s needed,” said Indian Land resident Keith Hassell. “You know, change is good -- but I think not to change too fast.”

“I’ve seen it for a while actually. I’m excited about it. I think it’s overdue,” said Lancaster resident Elaine J. McKinney. “I think that Lancaster is a great place to grow, and coming down from Charlotte, we’re seeing it.”

Some residents shared that they want to see the growth happen slowly.

“I believe we should put a little bit more time and effort into what is planned for this area and what’s approved,” said Patrick Hurley, who lives in Indian Land.

The county sales tax would rise to 9% and expire after 10 years. Voters were also asked if they would allow the county to borrow funds through bonds to get started on the transportation projects and to be repaid after 10 years with the help of the transportation sales tax revenue.

Most residents share that they want to see the increase in traffic addressed.

“I commute up to Charlotte, and you can just see the traffic flows are just much more heavier,” said Lancaster resident Mike Stallone. “We’ve been here for about 10 years and it’s just exploded.“

“Whether it’s roundabout, anything like that that, will help with the traffic, because it’s ridiculous coming off of Johnson Road and then coming down here. It takes two-to-three-times longer than it did a few years ago,” Alicia Wesseling said.

The president and incoming Chief Executive Officer of the state’s largest federal credit union is out, according to news reports.

Keith Wilson, who’d been with South Carolina-based Founders Federal Credit Union for 25 years and was set to take over as CEO in January, is no longer with the company, Founders spokesperson Nicki Nash confirmed. The Lancaster News was the first to report Wilson’s departure.

Founders Federal Credit Union is the state’s largest credit union, boasting some $4.7 billion in assets and 860 employees serving 273,817 members in North and South Carolina, according to the company’s annual report from last year. It has nearly 50 locations across the Carolinas.

Nash, who was unavailable by phone, confirmed in an emailed statement that Wilson was “no longer with” the company and that CEO Bruce Brumfield would stay in his role after the credit union previously announced his retirement.

The credit union, headquartered in Lancaster, had named Wilson as the successor for Brumfield when his retirement was announced in January of this year. The news release, posted to the credit union’s website in January, has been taken down.

Two board members reached by a reporter — former University of South Carolina Athletic Director Ray Tanner and State Senator Allen Blackmon — declined to comment.

The credit union posted to social media Wednesday that Brumfield would remain CEO, at the request of the board.

“We appreciate [Wilson’s] contributions and wish him well,” Nash said in an emailed statement.

When the company announced Wilson’s upcoming promotion in January of this year, Brumfield said he was “confident [Wilson] has what it takes to lead this credit union.”

Brumfield has held the credit union’s top position for the last two decades and has worked for Founders for nearly four decades. He took over as CEO when Laura Fleming, who led the company for more than four decades, retired in 2002. An attempt to reach Brumfield was unsuccessful.

Founders Federal Credit Union began in 1950 under the name The Founders Difference, according to the company’s website, when a group of mill employees decided to start the credit union.

Many of the dogs chained, underweight and fighting infections

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (WBTV) - Four people are in custody after 47 dogs were rescued in Lancaster and Chester counties.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division worked with other local law enforcement agencies to place the animals with the Humane World for Animals organization.

Veterinarians have examined the animals and are being evaluated at a confidential location. One case manager with Humane World for Animals, Manuel Flores, said he was at the rescues and said many of the animals were happy to see them.

The four people who were charged and identified as 33-year-old Diara Charles Talford, 32-year-old Devin Dashaud Mobley, 22-year-old Zion Damir Hairston, and 37-year-old Nicos Kendrell Little are all facing animal fighting or baiting charges and a number of other charges.

They are currently being held at the Lancaster and Chester County Detention Center. Flores said when rescuers arrived they found many of the dogs chained, underweight, and some were struggling with infections.

“You know we’re going to each dog, documenting the scene, evaluating their condition, their physical environment, and when it came time to get these dogs removed from the property, I mean they were just enjoying the company,” Flores said.

Flores said now many of the animals are being held until they are evaluated and ready to be placed in shelters and eventually homes.

“Our placement team will go ahead and do those outreaches to local shelters, possibly any fosters for any type of extended care for them,” Flores said.

The end of the year can be a busier time for many shelters, and the Lancaster County Animal Shelter is no exception. Over the last few years, they say they’ve seen an increase of around 200-300 pets a year. Now, they’re working to ensure animals are surrendered properly.

“Make sure that you actually have the facilities, that you actually have the discretionary income for the dog food, the cat food, actually even making sure that it has its proper shots and is cared for properly,” said Stephany Snowden, Lancaster County Deputy County Administrator.

The county’s shelter can hold around 60 dogs and 60 cats at a time. While they encourage adoptions, they want people who have pets to consider their current care, especially as it gets colder.

“You know, definitely, when we look at these cold snaps, we need to look at bringing them in if at all possible,” Snowden said. “You know they have the Taj Mahal of dog houses with heating capacity, but they just need to be properly sheltered.”

The 6^th Circuit Court Solicitor’s Office will be prosecuting these cases where the 47 dogs were rescued.

Rescuers are urging people in the community to stay alert and report any unusual activity.

A South Carolina company just bought a long list of properties across York and Lancaster counties, combining for more than $85 million.

Saviria LLC bought nine York County properties on Oct. 23 for a combined $35.8 million. The more than 20 acres includes commercial and residential sites in Rock Hill, Fort Mill and York. Saviria also bought nine Indian Land and Lancaster properties on Oct. 10 for $48.8 million. They combine for more than 150 acres.

Saviria listed its owner’s address as a home in the Piper Glen area of Charlotte, according to land records in York and Lancaster counties. The limited liability company is registered in South Carolina, state records show, with a registered agent in Indian Land who could not immediately be reached for comment.

Rock Hill properties involved in the sales are the Founders Federal Credit Union building at Home Depot Boulevard and Celanese Road, plus land on three sides of the Mount Gallant and India Hook roads intersection.

Two small properties in Fort Mill are on the corner of Tom Hall and Sanders streets, near the Walmart Neighborhood Market shopping center. York sites are vacant properties at Alexander Love Highway and Court House Avenue.

The Charlotte company owns several other retail and residential properties throughout York County.

In Lancaster County, five of the now nine properties Saviria owns are connected just south of Fort Mill Highway in Indian Land, southwest of Stock Lane. Those vacant properties just east of the York County line combine for about 60 acres.

Another Indian Land site is more than 60 acres west of U.S. 521, opposite Marvin Road. Three more properties, including the one Saviria owned prior to last month, are vacant sites off Marvin Road near the Union County, North Carolina, line. They combine for more than 30 acres.

The final piece is a gas station at 1200 N. Main St. in Lancaster.

Million-dollar business sales in Rock Hill region

Saviria wasn’t the only company purchasing properties last month. Others include:

Million-dollar home sales

Along with commercial sites, there were 27 homes that sold in October for $1 million or more in the region.

A Rock Hill home on Ivy Arbor Circle led the way at $2.8 million. Fort Mill had nine million-dollar sales, followed by Lake Wylie with six, Tega Cay with five, Rock Hill with three and Indian Land with two. York and McConnells each had one.

Use the map below for details on all the million-dollar home sales, with the October deals listed with blue icons.