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New language changes to an existing Colleton County ordinance could mean that hunting dogs could be considered running at large even during an active dog hunt.

Colleton County already has an animal ordinance in place. This existing ordinance says that animals are deemed to be “running at large” if the animal is off of its owners’ property and is not under immediate and direct supervision of the owner, including a restraining device. Traditionally in Colleton County, however, hunting dogs have been exempted from this ordinance, as long as the dog owner was actively looking for the animal.

If the new changes are approved by county council, hunting dogs in an active hunt would no longer be exempt and that hunting dog would be considered an animal that is running at large.

Colleton County Council gave first reading to the proposed new changes on Dec. 7th, 2021.

A second reading was scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 4th. Then, a public hearing and subsequent third and final reading was scheduled for this topic on Feb. 1st. However, on Monday, Colleton County Council At-Large Member Gene Whetsell said he was going to ask that the issue be tabled until council got more information on the pending changes. As an at-large representative on Colleton County Council, Whetsell represents all Colleton residents, no matter the district lines.

According to Whetsell, he had received “multiple calls” over the New Year’s Eve holiday from upset and concerned hunters, saying their dogs don’t know how to read property lines.

Whetsell also said these dog owners told him they want to be able to continue to search for their hunting dogs. “I need more information on this,” Whetsell said, on Monday. “I know this ordinance wasn’t sponsored by me.”

The scheduled Jan. 4th Colleton County Council meeting came after this newspaper’s print deadline. However, more information on this topic will be available on our social media sites and in future print issues of this newspaper.

Meanwhile, on social media, dog hunters have taken a very loud stance against any changes being made to the existing ordinance. Comments include hunters asking for an in-person public hearing on the issue, and not a virtual one; asking for dog hunters to contact their councilmen on the issue; and discussion on how GPS isn’t always the best means to track and recoup a roaming hunting dog.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc., a mattress manufacturing company, today announced plans to establish operations in Colleton County. The more than $1.9 million investment will create 50 new jobs.

Established in 2021, APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc. produces mattresses for retail stores and e-commerce businesses.

Located at 304 Thunderbolt Drive in Walterboro, APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc.’s new facility is the company’s first manufacturing operation.

The new facility is expected to be operational by January 2022. Individuals interested in joining the APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc. team should email jackhung@jonaglobal.com.

QUOTES

“APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc. is delighted to announce the presence of our first U.S. mattress manufacturing facility in Walterboro, South Carolina. Through our comprehensive strategic planning and study, South Carolina offers the best climate for new business, and Colleton County offers the best location for being close to both the Charleston and Savannah ports. Thank you, South Carolina, for offering the business-friendly environment and warm welcome!” -APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc. President Jack Hung

“South Carolina continues to drive in economic growth across our state and specifically in our rural communities. I congratulate APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc. on their new facility in Colleton County, and I look forward to watching them grow in the Palmetto State.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“We are excited that APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc. has chosen South Carolina for their new operating facility. Today’s announcement is another indication that companies recognize the benefits of doing business in the Palmetto State. We are thankful to this company’s investment and the 50 jobs it will create.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“This is another win for Colleton County! We are excited that APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc. has decided to locate in Walterboro and look forward to forming a partnership with their management team to ensure that they have what is needed to be successful. I am excited to see the finished product they are manufacturing. Thank you for bringing jobs to our region.” -Colleton County Council Chair Steve Murdaugh

“Congratulations to Colleton County and APEX Mattress Manufacturing, Inc. on this important job-creating announcement in Walterboro. Every job created provides a better opportunity for a family in our region, and we are pleased to assist Colleton County and APEX in any way that we can.” -SouthernCarolina Alliance Chair Marty Sauls

PRESS RELEASE. A wild duck harvested by a hunter in Colleton County, S.C., is the first wild bird since 2016 to be found infected in the United States with the Eurasian H5 type of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), officials have announced.

The bird, an American wigeon, was tested by the Clemson University Veterinary Diagnostic Center in Columbia and the diagnosis was confirmed by The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS).

This type of HPAI virus is considered a low risk to people but it can be danger to the poultry industry, which is an important part of South Carolina’s agricultural economy.

“We’re asking that anyone involved with poultry or egg production, from large farms all the way down to backyard flocks, review their biosecurity practices to assure the health of their birds,” said State Veterinarian Michael J. Neault, who directs Clemson Livestock Poultry Health, which includes the Veterinary Diagnostic Center.

“So far we have no indication that HPAI has jumped from wild migratory birds to poultry and we’d very much like to keep it that way,” Neault said.

USDA has alerted the World Organization of Animal Health, known as OIE, of the discovery as required under international trade protocols.

So far in 2022, Europe has been kept busy with H5 cases of their own, reporting to the OIE scattered infections across the continent from Portugal to Bulgaria. In December, Canada reported two separate cases in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Julie Helm, a veterinarian and poultry specialist with Clemson Livestock Poultry Health, advises South Carolinians to protect small poultry flocks with two simple statements: “Keep it AWAY and Keep it CLEAN.”

Keep it AWAY: Keep your poultry and pets away from wild ducks and geese and their environment — ponds, lakes and swampy areas. Take care not to track the wild waterfowl virus back to your flock if you are hunting or hiking in the wild waterfowl environment. Buy new birds from a reputable source. Keep new birds or returning show birds separated from your established home flocks for 30 days. Keep pests (rodents, raccoons, opossums, rabbits) out of bird pens. Keep visitors out of your bird areas; what may they be carrying on their feet, clothing or vehicles?

Keep it CLEAN: Clean cages and coops. Clean any equipment first before it comes onto your property. Wear designated farm shoes and clothing to care for your birds. Wash your hands before and after working with your birds. Change birds’ food and water daily. Wash your vehicles and trailers after visiting other poultry facilities and before you come home — Go through a car wash.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers the risk of HPAI H5 infections to the public to be low. No human infections from Eurasian H5 viruses have occurred in the United States.

Nonetheless, USDA Veterinary and Wildlife Services recommends hunters and others to take precautions to protect themselves and the domestic birds they may encounter from the virus:

Do not harvest or handle wild birds that are obviously sick or found dead.

Dress your game birds in the field whenever possible. If you must dress birds at home, clean them in an area in which your poultry and pet birds have no access.

Keep a separate pair of shoes to wear only in your game cleaning area. If this is not possible, wear rubber footwear and clean/disinfect your shoes before entering or leaving the area.

Do not eat, drink, or smoke while cleaning game.

Always wear rubber gloves while cleaning game or cleaning bird feeders.

Wash hands with soap and water immediately after handling game or cleaning bird feeders. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol wipes.

Use dedicated tools for cleaning game, whether in the field or at home. Do not use those tools around your poultry or pet birds.

Wash all tools and work surfaces with soap and water and then disinfect them.

Avoid cross-contamination. Keep uncooked game in a separate container, away from cooked or ready-to-eat foods.

Cook game meat thoroughly; poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 °F to kill disease organisms and parasites.

Double bag the offal and feathers. Tie the inner bag; be sure to take off your rubber gloves and leave them in the outer bag before tying it closed.

Place the bag in a trash can that poultry and pet birds cannot access. This trash can should also be secure against access by children, pets, or other animals.

Cook game meat thoroughly; poultry should reach an internal temperature of 165 °F to kill disease organisms and parasites.

Double bag the offal and feathers. Tie the inner bag; be sure to take off your rubber gloves and leave them in the outer bag before tying it closed.

Place the bag in a trash can that poultry and pet birds cannot access. This trash can should also be secure against access by children, pets, or other animals.

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A second round of winter weather in less than a week could turn parts of Beaufort County icy Friday and Saturday.

A bulletin from the National Weather Service in Charleston says a cold front will push through the area Thursday. With the weather pattern, widespread freezing rain is possible early Friday evening through Saturday morning across much of southeast South Carolina and Georgia.

The closer a person is to the beach, the less likely they’ll see ice because of the warming influence of the Atlantic Ocean, said lead meteorologist Steven Taylor.

“Right now there’s uncertainty in how cold the atmosphere will be” in the Hilton Head area, he said. The forecast shows temperatures right at the freezing mark for the island.

That means the greatest risk for freezing rain, as of Wednesday afternoon, would be inland around Beaufort north to Yemassee and Walterboro.

“Closer to U.S. 17 and I-95,” Taylor explained.

A news release from the South Carolina State Climate Office said ice on elevated roads is possible Friday night, along with ice on trees and power lines that could cause power outages.

A sunny Saturday should warm the temperature up above freezing during the day, but any water left on roads Saturday night could become black ice as temperatures dip below freezing again.

And more winter weather could be coming behind this round.

“The pattern is favorable for more rounds of precipitation into the next few weeks,” Taylor said.

Thursday

A 20 percent chance of rain after 3 p.m. Partly sunny with a high near 66. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.

Thursday night

Rain likely, mainly after 10 p.m. Cloudy with a low around 40. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 9 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Friday

Rain. High near 44. North wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Friday night

Rain likely before 9 p.m., then freezing rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 30. North wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no ice accumulation expected.

Saturday

Partly sunny with a high near 42.

Saturday night

Partly cloudy with a low around 29.

Sunday

Sunny with a high near 49.

Sunday night

Mostly clear with a low around 32.

This story was originally published January 19, 2022 3:30 PM.

HOS Boatworks (of DBA Cast and Blast Boats) will invest $250,000 in their operations, creating 15 new jobs over the next five years at their boat manufacturing facility in Walterboro.

“Walterboro is a great location for manufacturing our fiberglass HOS Boats, and we are pleased that we can grow our company and better serve our customer base here in Colleton County,” said Brooks Oswald, president of HOS Boatworks and Cast and Blast Boats. “We would like to thank the Colleton County team, SCA and the SC Department of Commerce for creating a business-friendly environment in which to grow our business.”

Colleton County Council Chairman Steve Murdaugh said he and council are “extremely excited” that HOS Boat Works is locating in the county, saying that businesses like this one show the county is ready and able to bring new jobs to the area.

“We look forward to working with management and we hope it will be a long relationship. This type of investment reaffirms that small business is truly the backbone to building a better economy,” he said. “We are proud to have this fine company expanding in our community, and we appreciate the jobs that they are creating right here in Walterboro,” said Murdaugh.

Located just off Mt. Carmel Road outside of Walterboro and along Interstate 95, HOS Boatworks has already begun production in Walterboro.

Colleton is a member of the regional development group, which focuses on expanding industry and work force development in several Lowcountry counties, including Colleton.

“SouthernCarolina Alliance welcomes HOS Boatworks’ investment in Colleton County,” said SouthernCarolina Alliance Chairman Marty Sauls. “Outdoorsmen are familiar with this stellar brand, and we are so pleased to have this company manufacturing and growing their operations in our region. What a great company and a great product!”

HOS Boats was founded by Brooks and Rosa Oswald. Brooks has more than 25 years of experience in the marine industry.

“We are excited to be opening and developing a new fiberglass boat manufacturer in Walterboro. HOS Boats, LLC will manufacture fiberglass boats with sales reaching customers in its targeted market,” he said. “Over the last 3 years we have invested and completed the first model, which is ready to be sold. This model is the 24’ fiberglass boat. There will be 2 more models to follow that are currently in the beginning phase of development and later 2 larger models. The models that are in the developmental phase now are 20’ and 33’ fiberglass boats.

“South Carolina is a large boating community with many boat manufacturers. Our boats appeal to inshore and offshore fishing along with being a family boat,” said Brooks Oswald.

HOS Boats mission is to develop, enhance, and promote fiberglass boats, models 24’ and to follow 20’ and 33’ models. HOS Boats will provide customers with an exceptionally built boat, where we have thought out every last detail and invested the time into producing a one-of-a-kind versatile boat with uncompromising service and support for our customers boating needs.

For more information, call the company office at: 843-795-0105.