Roofing Contractor inHanahan, SC.

Ken Hilliard and Dawn Verbarg — better known as Blazin’ Bullets Barbeque — scored an impressive fourth place finish in this year’s prestigious Master Barbeque Awards competition sponsored by the South Carolina Barbeque Association (SCBA). The couple is no stranger to SCBA awards, having finished in the top five in 2017 and 2018, and in the top 10 in 2016.

Tail-Gater Hater, a cook team from Lake City fronted by pit master Phillip Miles, won first place — along with the right to be called the 2022 State Barbeque Champion — in the barbeque (butts) category for the second year in a row and for the third time in the last four years. The team also won the ribs category for second consecutive year. Due to COVID and the cancellation of contests, the SCBA did not name winners for 2020.

Rounding out the 2022 winners circle for the top barbeque cook teams were:

Second Place: Monkey Bottom Boys led by pit master George Ray from Scranton;

Third Place: Casual Smokers, led by pit master Jamie Mintz from Spartanburg;

Fifth Place: All Smoked Up, led by pit master Gary Taylor from Lexington.

Each team received a trophy presented by SCBA President Jim Wellman on Saturday, January 28, on the grounds of the Governor’s Mansion in Columbia. The top three winners also earned a cash award. For the ribs category, only the top finisher is recognized with a trophy, as many contests do not include a ribs category.

To contend for the 2022 title, cook teams had to participate in at least eight barbeque contests. During these contests, most often held in conjunction with local festivals and nonprofits fundraisers, SCBA-certified judges scored the contestants’ meat — prepared overnight and on-site — in five categories: taste, appearance, texture, aroma and overall impression.

Competition is intensely fierce, as top scorers often place within one-hundredths of a percentage point of each other. The 2022 field included 123 different cook teams from throughout the state.

SCBA’s 2023 competition season kicks off in late February and runs through November. Cook teams will have plenty of chances to secure a top spot for this year’s awards, as the SCBA anticipates providing judging for more than 25 events around the state. To vie for the 2023 award, cook teams must enter at least 10 events. Cook teams interested in entering contests should check the SCBA’s website (www.scbarbeque.com) for upcoming events.

Individuals interested in becoming certified SCBA judges should also check the website for upcoming judges’ seminars. The next seminar is planned for February 18 in Columbia. Plans are also underway for one to be help in the Upstate later this year.

Founded in 2004, the South Carolina Barbecue Association is a not-for-profit organization that exists to train the best barbeque judges in the world and to preserve and promote the unique nature of South Carolina barbeque. In 2011, the South Carolina Legislature designated the SCBA as the official organization to name the South Carolina State Barbeque Champion.

Community members gathered at the American Legion Post 166 headquarters on the afternoon of Feb. 5 to commemorate the heroic and selfless acts of a group of men who sacrificed their lives rescuing civilian passengers and military personnel as an American troop ship, the SS Dorchester, sank on February 3, 1943. These four brave individuals will forever be known as the Four Chaplains. The SS Dorchester was used for troop transport in World War II. The large vessel was hit by a German torpedo, prompting its immediate evacuation. The attack is considered the second-worst sea disaster of the Second World War. The Four Chaplains were comprised of George Lansing Fox of Lewistown, Pennsylvania; Rabbi Alexander David Goode of Brooklyn, New York; Clark Vandersall Poling of Columbus, Ohio and John Patrick Washington of Newark, New Jersey.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Sometimes, in the toughest of times, it’s the littlest thing from the most unlikely place.

“My purpose in life has always been to look after kids and their purpose,” North Charleston High School (NCHS) assistant coach and Lowcountry native Ray Mullins said. “Help them grow confidence. Coaching the game, I fell in love with the game. Gave me confidence and I tried to instill confidence in kids who needed places to grow.”

Mullins graduated from Hanahan. Played for Lander. He’s coached in the area for over two decades.

Read more: Northwood Academy basketball player surprised on court on senior night

“Coach Ray, I am forever grateful for him,” Summerville native and Pinewood Prep grad Michael Wright said. “There is a short list of coaches. Coach Eidson, my dad, who impact a player, and Ray was one of those guys. The moment I walked into the gym, he took me under his wing and believed in me as a basketball player.”

Their bond is deeply rooted. But, lives move on. Wright went to Pinewood Prep. He played AAU basketball for Mullins as a 15 year old. Wright is now a fifth year graduate student at University of Illinois Springfield. He plans on playing professional basketball overseas. Mullins, now teaching and coaching at NCHS, the place where his life forever changed less than a year ago.

“I was in Mr. Darby’s office at NCHS when I found out - they just told me - stage 4,” he said. “You think about life. You think about how things are going to work out - you hear stage 4. Nowadays, stage 4 isn’t a good thing to hear, but with technology and people wanting to support, there is a plan out there for you.”

Just as cancer spreads, so does word of it. (WCIV)

Just as cancer spreads, so does word of it.

“Terrible,” Wright said. “I remember finding out through Facebook. Something he had gone through. Somebody who cares so much about community and given so much to community through basketball, to have something like that effect their life, never like to see that.”

So, Wright took his emotions into his own hands. Literally. During the “Coaches versus cancer” night - he held up a sign. It simply said, “I suit up for Ray Mullins”.

Read more: Clifford overcomes stutter for highly successful 40 year career

“It’s humbling to me, brings me hope, great things in humanity,” Mullins said. “He did surprise me with the salute at the game the other night - super proud of him and what he’s become as a man. Just super proud. Gives me hope, doesn’t allow me to quit- didn’t know what quitting was until I started this chemo thing. They say not to quit, stay strong.”

“I got too much to pay it forward for, it’s not just about me,” he continued. “About kids I’m coaching. Kids that are fighting the same fight against cancer.”

In basketball terms, impact, is a “give and go”.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Hanahan has their new head football coach.

The school announced on Tuesday afternoon that Georgia Southern staff member Milan Turner has been named the new head man for the Hawks.

Turner replaces Art Craig who was placed on leave in the middle of last season. Earlier on Tuesday a Berkeley County School District Spokesperson said Craig has now retired from BCSD.

Turner had been working as the Director of High School Relations at Georgia Southern but has a great deal of experience as a head coach as well.

In 28 years of coaching, Turner has coached in six state championship games for five different high schools around Georgia. Among his accolades are North/South All-Star Head Coach, Region Coach of the Year, Atlanta Touchdown Club Class A Coach of the Year, GACA Class A State Coach of the Year, and was selected to coach in the 2008 Under Armour national all-star game.

“First, I would like to thank Coach Clay Helton and Georgia Southern University for the incredible opportunity I had to serve this year on the football staff,” Turner said in a statement released by the school. “I want to also thank Principal Tom Gallus, Athletic Director Kim Joseph, the search committee, and the Berkeley County Board of Education for this incredible opportunity to be a teacher and head football coach at Hanahan High School. I am extremely excited for the future of our school and athletic program. I cannot wait to get to work with our team and to meet the Hanahan community. Wendi and I feel extremely blessed!”

“We are elated to welcome Coach Turner to the Hawk family,” Hanahan Principal Tom Gallus said. “Our community is very fortunate to have a coach of this caliber to lead and develop our student-athletes on and off the field. Coach Turner is a proven educator and leader. He knows what it takes to build a successful high school football program and to ensure that each student is prepared for their next steps after high school. I look forward to serving alongside Coach Turner and seeing our Hawks shine under the Friday night lights.”

Hanahan becomes the 3rd school in the Lowcountry to hire a new head coach this offseason joining Northwood Academy and Colleton County. First Baptist, North Charleston, Berkeley and Ft. Dorchester are still looking for replacements.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

After being reelected for another term on Tuesday, Hanahan Mayor Christie Rainwater is already preparing for the next four years.

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) - After being reelected for another term on Tuesday, Hanahan Mayor Christie Rainwater is already preparing for the next four years.

In this year’s election, no opponents ran against Rainwater, which she says was a relief to not sit on the edge of her seat and worry about winning or not.

“I feel like the residents of the city have seen the work I’ve put in, and they want that to keep going,” she says. “They want the momentum to continue, and no one ran against me. I’m able to really continue keeping that momentum going.”

The Hanahan City Council and school board members were all reelected on Tuesday, and the mayor says will continue as a strong partnership because of the established relationships.

Similar to the rest of the Lowcountry, Hanahan continues to grow. Rainwater focused on building economic development and recreation in the area by adding two new parks over the last four years.

“Really bringing this quality of life to the residents is what we’ve been doing over the past four years and will continue to do over the next four,” she says.

As for the upcoming four years, the mayor really wants to focus on flooding concerns, more economic growth and additional housing for the community. She also mentioned that the Lowcountry Rapid Transit plans include four stops that will positively impact Hanahan.

“We are really looking at our specifically downtown area and how can we allow for housing that will work for everyone,” Rainwater says. “We have changed the ordinances over the past few years that will allow for us to build up a little higher and bring that in.”

The mayor also expressed that Hanahan has a small-town feel despite being the seventeenth-largest city in South Carolina.

“I like to say I bleed blue and orange,” she says. “Hanahan is the heart of the Lowcountry. When you look at its location, you’ve got downtown Charleston, Summerville, Mount Pleasant, West Ashley, and right in the heart, you’ll find Hanahan. The truth is, it’s not just because of its location; the people in Hanahan are so special.”

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCBD) – The owner of a fitness training company in Hanahan that has been working with kids and adults for a few years is calling on the community to help keep his business open.

Kendrick Robinson opened The Factory Sports and Fitness Training in Hanahan a year before the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States to help train people in basketball, football, and other athletics.

“It was something that God brought to me. He gave me a vision,” said Robinson. “I wanted to have a facility where the youth in our community could (better) selves and have a safe place where they can come and train.”

“He always helps out. He helps out with kids like schoolwork and stuff like that before training,” said Christian Gray, who has been coming to the program for four years.

Robinson said working with the youth is his passion. But things have been tough financially, he said.

“Our rates are really not expensive, but if they’re not able to do training, we try to do charitable giving would give out free sessions,” explained Robinson.

He went on to say, “We kind of gotten [sic] to a rough patch since Covid. We had a business plan, and it kind of altered all of that, and we’ve been playing catch-up ever since.”

Robinson decided Sunday to let the public know they might have to close next month and started a GoFundMe in hopes of finding some assistance.

“Not something I wanted to go public with, but closed mouths don’t get fed. God revealed that to me, he told me to make sure I keep this place open and get the help that we needed from the community. The response has been, man amazing.”

More than $2,500 has already come in from the community, of the $10,000 they need.

“It’s been amazing to get all the feedback and support from the supporters we’ve had over the years and knowing that we’re doing the right thing just by being transparent with the community and letting them know that it hasn’t always been easy.”

If you would like to help, please click here.