Defense Contractor Attorney Near Orangeburg, SC

SCDOT will hold a meeting July 17 at the New Vision Centre in Orangeburg to discuss planned improvements to I-26.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — As South Carolina wraps up one of the busiest holiday weekends of the year, traffic remains heavy on key routes across the state, including Interstate 26, a major corridor connecting Columbia and Charleston.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is now planning significant upgrades to a heavily traveled stretch of I-26 that runs through Orangeburg and Dorchester counties. Officials are asking for public input before construction begins.

Signs along the interstate are currently notifying drivers about the proposed improvements. According to SCDOT, the project includes widening I-26 by adding a travel lane in each direction toward the existing median, clearing the median, installing barrier walls and cable guardrails, addressing structural needs, and improving interchanges at multiple exits.

Some Orangeburg residents say the improvements are long overdue.

“I think I speak for all when I say that I think they can start small by fixing potholes, fixing that up in all different ways,” said Scott Stephens, who lives in Orangeburg and works off Exit 154.

He added that he often avoids the interstate entirely by using backroads due to congestion. Others echoed Stephens’ frustration and emphasized the need for urgent attention to road conditions.

“I-26 is a bottleneck,” said Orangeburg resident Gordon Hall. “It’s just due to the fact that it’s two lanes and they need to open it up. They need to pay more attention to what they are doing down there. There are too many potholes; get roads opened up and get more traffic down here. People coming to Charleston don’t even want to go down there anymore, and it's turning into a bottleneck.”

“Mostly when we see people travelling from I-26, it’s because of construction or accidents,” said Heriy Patel, also from Orangeburg. “They say they are stuck in traffic for almost half an hour, so it’s like, oh goodness.”

Residents said they would be more willing to use I-26 regularly if the planned improvements help alleviate persistent traffic problems.

According to SCDOT’s website, the project will happen in two phases. Phase one is expected to begin this fall and will take about five years to complete.

A public meeting is scheduled to gather community feedback on the project. It will be held on Thursday, July 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the New Vision Centre in Orangeburg.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell announced the arrest of three suspects after an investigation led to the seizure of illegal drugs and weapons.

Ravenell said deputies executed ssearch warrants at home on Oliver Road in North on Wednesday.

Tavaris Pough and Jeffrey Pough, both from North, were arrested and charged with trafficking more than 200 grams of cocaine and drug conspiracy.

Deputies also said 30-year-old Keosha Bailey was also charged with trafficking more than 200 grams of cocaine and drug conspiracy.

“This was a long-term investigation that resulted in the seizure of the widest array of drugs in a while,” said Ravenell. “Somebody out there isn’t happy this weekend, but I couldn’t care less.”

Ravenell said that more than 1,560 grams of marijuana was seized along with 154 grams of crack cocaine, 287 grams of cocaine, 2,231 grams of THC (marijuana) liquid, 511 grams of THC wax, 114 grams of THC vape pens, 129 grams of THC edibles, four firearms, and more than $9,300 in cash.

The uncut cocaine alone is estimated to be worth more than $2,800 in street value, the sheriff said.

“Oliver Road should see less traffic with these guys locked up,” said Ravenell. “A whole lot less traffic.”

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ORANGEBURG, S.C. - It’s the end of an era for a historic Orangeburg high school.

Howard Middle School, which was once Wilkinson High School and Orangeburg’s first African-American high school, is being demolished to make way for the new Robert E. Howard Elementary School.

Wilkinson High School alumni made their way back to walk through the school’s halls one last time on Wednesday.

Former students said that the pride found within the school gave them the strength to overcome barriers, even though their educational resources were limited.

“We were segregated,” said Evia Thomas. “We had used books from the white high school, however, we were not deprived academically. Our motto was ‘strive to excel, not to equal’ and that is what promoted and encouraged us.”

While news of the historic school’s demolition created mixed emotions throughout the community, many alumni say they see the change as just another way Wilkinson High School is promoting progress.

“It’s kind of bittersweet tearing down the building,” said Debra Brunson, another Wilkinson High School alumna. “But I feel good because I know in the end that I’ve done what’s best for children, and the pride now (is) in all of the communities in Orangeburg County. They have upgraded facilities.”

The demolition process has already started. In total, it will cost $55.6 million, $40 million of which was donated through a Department of Education grant. The projected timeline for the project’s completion is December 2026.

Orangeburg School District Superintendent Shawn Foster said the new school will help preserve the history of Wilkinson High School.

“The foundation still remains, but the opportunity to merge history with the future doesn’t mean some parts have to be forgotten,” he said. " This is an opportunity for us to ensure this community that the legacy, the things that Wilkinson has meant to this community, will remain and that history will not be forgotten.”

Now, as former students look ahead to the future of the historical land, they said they’re confident Wilkinson High School will never stay ingrained in the community.

“A lot of great memories for that school, but we hold dear in our hearts the nurture that those teachers gave us. They could see potential in us that we didn’t see in ourselves,” said Judith Salley, another Wilkinson High School alumnus.

Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.

A restaurant chain known for its sandwiches has opened a new Midlands location, and it’s introducing a new side item with the debut.

Firehouse Subs, which has locations across the U.S., had a grand opening on June 16 of its new store at 133 Magnolia Village Parkway in Orangeburg. That’s just off busy North Road, near a Walmart Supercenter and across the street from a Lowe’s Home Improvement store.

The new Firehouse was opened by franchisees Larry and Jody Chandler, who have 40 Firehouse locations across the Carolinas. They are the largest franchisees in the sub chain’s system, according to a release.

The location along Magnolia Village Parkway is the first Firehouse in the Midlands market to offer french fries, the release said. The fries are “golden and crispy inside while fluffy outside,” the company said, and come with a Firehouse Hero dipping sauce.

There are more than 1,200 Firehouse subs restaurants across the U.S., according to data site ScrapeHero. The company is know for its hot sandwiches piled high with sliced meats, including the signature Hook & Ladder sandwich with turkey, honey ham, Monterrey jack cheese, mayo, deli mustard. lettuce tomato and onion.

The new Orangeburg location is open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. It’s in a busy commercial area, as more than 28,500 car per day travel down nearby North Road, per state Department of Transportation data.

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 20 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (WIS) - A massive fire late Sunday led to the collapse of a building in downtown Orangeburg, according to officials.

The Orangeburg Department of Public Safety said fire crews from the city, as well as the Orangeburg County Fire District and the Office of Emergency Services, responded to the blaze on Broughton Street.

Orangeburg DPS said that within five minutes of the call, crews confirmed a fully-involved two-story fire at the scene. Crews also reported that the remainder of the building’s roof and the front of the building had collapsed.

“Due to prior knowledge and thorough pre-planning, our firefighters identified the structure as suitable for exterior fire operations only,” Orangeburg DPS said in a statement. “Utilizing aerial trucks and master stream devices, our firefighters brought the fire under control, containing it to the building of origin. No injuries occurred during the incident.”

Officials said a portion of Broughton Street from Fischer Street to Russell Street is still closed on Monday due to debris from the collapse. It was also noted the building was scheduled to be demolished prior to the fire.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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