Chimney Sweep in Bonneau, SC

Fresh off her graduation from Macedonia High School in 1973, Delores Whack had clear visions of living out the college experience of sororities, campus life and football games, until that is her father, Daniel Thompson, told the 17-year-old that it was time to seek life’s work.

Whack complied and dashed her plans of moving to Charleston by venturing all the way up north to Boston, Massachusetts to live with her Aunt Hazel and put her college dreams on hold for a period of nearly 50 years.

“I was sort of like amazed because I traveled there on a bus, a Greyhound Bus, and when I was saw all the buildings and stuff, I think I was expecting everything to be real tall,” recalled the then impressionable teenager when first setting foot in Beantown and anticipating it to resemble New York City.

Propelled by her endearing enthusiasm, the eager newcomer to “The City on the Hill” was hired as a money-wiring specialist at the First National Bank of Boston and remained there for a period of three to four years.

From there, Whack relocated to Statesboro, Georgia to put in some additional work. But first and foremost, her main priority after marrying her first husband was to raise her first child. She would go on to eventually mother two boys.

The Bonneau Beach native’s sojourn from being a steady workforce contributor renewed her long-term desire to someday earn acceptance in a university. Her newfound strategy in seeing her mission through at the time led her to move back to her home state by gaining employment as an issuer of “oversized” home loans for the Department of Transportation in Columbia.

Whack was not only a quick study in learning her craft, but she continued working for the state agency for 32 years. During that time, Whack took advantage of the opportunity of vying for a college degree at the University of South Carolina with the assured financial backing from the State.

“I went to class, I got enrolled at USC ... but it was kind of overwhelming and I stopped,” added the resilient parent and working professional, who struggled in creating ample time to perform up to her expectations at an institution of higher learning.

But while Whack had resigned herself as being a lifelong high school graduate at this stage, little did she know that a shining and inspirational light would finally appear to her following retirement as a state employee. It was a revelation of sorts that prompted her to take care of business once and for all.

“After I retired, I found out you could go to school free after 60. I always wanted to do that and said, ‘You know what, I’m going to do it.’ I didn’t have anything to stop me, plus I was getting used to doing nothing being retired,” she said about her epiphany moment that put her on the road back to USC.

She opted to major in education given the potential teachers have in emerging as difference makers in students’ lives.

“Every night, I watched the news and I saw so many kids going astray. I said, ’Maybe if I can catch them while they’re young and teach them while they’re young, and teach them how to love each other and stop fighting so much,” revealed the now 67-year-old grandmother of eight and great-grandmother of one. “I want to be around kids and just talk to them.”

Ironically, the elder statesperson who was fascinated by the thought of mentoring young individuals was herself motivated by a 28-year-old educator to get up and try again after initially failing to pass her PRAXIS test required of all prospective educators in South Carolina.

The female professor, she noted, injected Whack with a much-needed dose of momentum to capture her second wind and see the job through.

Her young source of encouragement, in an odd twist of fate, hailed from Boston, Massachusetts.

In reflecting on her trials and subsequent triumph, Whack advises fellow seniors in seek of a college degree to start slow by even registering for one class per semester until they acquire the confidence to assume a greater study load.

“No matter what anyone says to you, or about you, don’t take it to heart — just keep going, just keep pushing. As long as you know what you’re about, it doesn’t matter what someone else thinks of you.”

On Dec. 12, 2022, Whack donned the cap and gown to celebrate her graduation from USC, as she now prepares to seek out opportunities to apply her knowledge as a substitute teacher.

As for her memories of Bonneau Beach, the Columbia resident still visits her old haunts to catch up with relatives and friends. Whack remembers nothing but fond memories of the tight-knit neighborhood she was born and raised in.

“I think families were closer then, families there took care of each other, children looked out for each other.”

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It may be called “One Night” because it is one night many will never forget.

For the first time since its inception in 2017, the “One Night” inclusive prom for those with special needs started by New Life Baptist Church and pastor Billy Harmon partnered with the city of Goose Creek Therapeutic Recreation Division to host the annual event.

“It was so magical,” said Hannah Miller, city of Goose Creek therapeutic recreation manager. “Everyone had such a great time.”

Miller said nearly 250 people, mostly adults with special needs but some youth as well, registered for the event and more than 150 attended. They were treated to a red-carpet arrival, dinner and music at the Goose Creek Recreation Center.

“We provided the space at the rec center, waived rental fees, used our email lists to promote the prom, brought in staff to set up the tables and things like that,” Miller said. The church provided the D.J., the meal and the decorations. It was great working with them to make this happen and I’m just glad the city of Goose Creek and my department got to be a part of it.”

The prom was free for everyone who attended.

Harmon, who is the father of a daughter with special needs, said he got the idea to have the prom from Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine event.

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BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — The small town of Bonneau is rallying around a family whose son is recovering from a serious accident involving a lawnmower on Saturday.

According to a report from the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office, Wyatt Carr, 5, was playing in his yard while his father, Clinton, was cutting the grass.

The boy's mother, Lorena, told authorities that Wyatt "came out of nowhere" and was run over by the lawnmower, according to the report. The parents provided their son with medical attention until first responders arrived.

Berkeley County Fire, EMS and sheriff's deputies responded to the residence on Lake Moultrie Drive shortly before 5 p.m. Wyatt was medically evacuated to MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital for treatment of serious injuries to his left leg and hand.

Deputies say no foul play is expected.

GoFundMe

According to a GoFundMe set up for the family by a community member, Wyatt lost his left leg below the knee as well as part of his left hand.

The fundraiser, which was set up on Sunday, has raised nearly $20,000 at the time of publishing. More than 250 people have donated.

In addition to the GoFundMe, others in the community are doing their part to raise funds to aid the Carrs with their medical bills.

Charity dinner

On Saturday, Aug. 20, all funds made from the North Berkeley Marine Division Chicken Bog Dinner will be donated to the family.

The dinner is taking place from 10:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. at 942 Black Oak Rd. Plates cost $11 each and come with chicken bog, green beans and a roll.

Those who are interested in ordering ahead are asked to call or text one of the following numbers:

Family photoshoot raffle

Diandra Dellucci Photography is raffling off a family photoshoot. Dellucci says all proceeds will go directly to the family to cover medical costs, including getting Wyatt a prosthetic leg.

Each dollar donated counts as one entry, and there are no limits as to how much you can donate.

For more information, click here.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - The Newberry County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of 55-year-old Ryan Lanard Bonneau.

Bonneau was arrested for receiving stolen goods valued at more than $10,000, possession of a weapon by a violent felon, and unlawful carry of a handgun.

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, deputies received a call from a resident that was looking to purchase a Kubota Skid Steer from Facebook Market Place.

The individual became suspicious during the conversations about buying and delivering the heavy equipment.

Deputies were provided a vehicle identification number and wanted help from the Sheriff’s Office to check on the status of the skid steer.

During the investigation, deputies found out that the item was stolen and began an undercover operation to retrieve the stolen item.

Sheriff Foster stated, “After taking Bonneau into detention, Deputies confirmed the skid steer was the one stolen from West Columbia and made contact with Investigators from West Columbia of the recovery.” “During the investigation of Bonneau was discovered to have $20,000 in cash, a handgun, along with his two children.”

Investigators say, during the operation, Bonneau’s two children were with him and cared for by deputies before being turned over to the Department of Social Services for family placement.

Bonneau is being detained at the Newberry County Detention Center on a $20,000.00 cash/surety bond.

“We would expect to find criminals involved in this type of activity to possibly be armed with a weapon, however, to bring your two kids, subject them to a felony arrest, and place your children in danger, is just thoughtless and careless”, said Sheriff Foster.

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Nearly 95 first grade students spent one of their first field trips picking strawberries at Bonneau’s Annie-Lynn Farms last month.

Students from Andrews Elementary, part of the Georgetown County School District, had the opportunity to participate in a hayride tour around the farm, harvest their own strawberries, investigate different types of seeds, explore vegetable fields and learn about different types of farming equipment during the April 27 field trip.

“We try to keep our field trips as local as possible,” said Andrews Elementary first grade teacher, Leslie Eaddy. “We really enjoy it here because the farm is able to tie experiences into our learning standards of plants, plant needs and wants and plant life cycles.”

“We really appreciate this life experience for our students,” added Eaddy. “Many of our kids do not get the opportunity to see strawberries and other produce outside of the grocery store. Seeing them participate in strawberry picking instead of just going to the store is very rewarding.”

For some students at Andrews Elementary, this was their first opportunity to go on a field trip and experience learning outside of the classroom since COVID.

“This is actually my son’s first field trip since he was in pre-kindergarten,” said Amy Harrelson, mother of one of the first graders. “This really provides students with the opportunity to get out of the classroom, get hands-on learning experience, take something home with them and have an overall good time.”

Once activities on the farm began, students were eager to learn and enjoy all that Annie-Lynn Farms has to offer.

“I am very happy to be at the strawberry farm today,” said one student. “I am most excited about picking my own strawberries.”

Annie-Lynn Farms is a family owned and operated business that opened in March of 2017. The farm offers strawberries, a variety of vegetables, boiled peanuts, homemade jams and jellies, pickled okra, honey and much more.

“I love doing this work because I get to meet new people every day,” said Jennifer Kimrey, farm operator. “It is almost like our customers are an extension of our family. People love to come and purchase, sit with us and just visit and talk. It gives us an opportunity to interact with people.”

Annie-Lynn Farms is located at 1663 Main St. in Bonneau, South Carolina and is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. Contact Annie-Lynn Farms at (843) 729-2694 to schedule events.

BONNEAU, SC (WCSC) - A Bonneau man says heavy winds from Tropical Storm Hermine caused a tree to collapse onto his home minutes after he told his family to move to the back of the house.

Tim Walters and his family said tree limbs began falling on his home around 10 p.m. Friday and they knew the tree those limbs were coming from was rotten.

"Ninety percent of the time, we're in the living room, you know, that's the X-Box, the movies, the TV, you know, everything's in the living room," Walters said.

Walters urged his children to immediately get out of the living room and go to the back of the house.

Minutes later, the tree fell into the home, and over the length of his entire house.

"One second you could hear the tree cracking and then the next second it just comes tumbling down," Walter said.

Walters protected his two-month-old baby with his body while his fiancée shielded the other children as the tree fell.

"It's probably the scariest thing that I've ever been through in my life," Walters' fiancée, Noelle Bianchi, said. "We didn't know what was going to happen next. Is this it or is the rest of the house going tumbling down? And we couldn't really drive anywhere because the wind was so bad so we just got in the car and parked in the middle of the yard. I figured that was the safest thing because we didn't know if another tree was going to come tumbling down."

No one in the home was seriously injured.

"We're very lucky and we just thank God," Bianchi said.

After they were out of the house, one of Walters' older daughters was in a panicked state, but Walters said what touched him was when their four-year-old tried to reassure her, telling her it could have been a lot worse.

"For a four-year-old to look at the situation and understand how lucky we are is an amazing thing," Walters said. "We're lucky we made it out."

Walters, his children, and fiancée are currently staying with family members until their home is repaired.

Copyright 2016 WCSC. All rights reserved.