Electricians in Hanahan, SC

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.

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“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.

“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”.

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“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”.

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.

Hanahan High School coach Brian Mitchell enters his 20th season as the Hawks’ handler in baseball.

He expects this year’s bunch to look about like most before it on the diamond. As the curtains open on the season, Mitchell’s squad is No. 4 in Class AAA by the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association.

Last spring, the Hawks won 25 games and capped the campaign in the Lower State tournament.

“You could hit repeat on our last 10 years,” said Mitchell, who has more than 300 career victories. “We have some pitching and defense to be competitive. We’ve got to find some bats. We’ve got to hit. How far we’re able to go comes down to generating some runs. How are we going to be hitting at the end of the year?”

A recent practice was spent grinding at the plate, working on small ball. The Hawks bunted for more than an hour. Mitchell doesn’t think the Hawks are going to be able to sit on the bases and wait for doubles for run production.

“We’re going to have to be a hard-nosed contact team and put pressure on teams on the bases,” Mitchell said.

The Hawks begin the regular season on March 9 at Fort Dorchester and follow with road clashes at James Island on March 10 and West Ashley on March 13. Hanahan opens its home slate on March 15 versus Gainesville (Fla.) High School.

A stellar group of seniors are back to guide the journey this spring. Nick Cappello, a catcher/pitcher, batted .348 and posted a 7-0 mark on the mound with a 1.55 ERA as a junior. Catcher Mason Brady batted .333 in 2022. Outfielders Brayden Joseph and Kwame Parker made the most of their opportunities at the dish last season, hitting .441 and .419 in a total of 79 plate appearances. Pitcher/infielder Braylon Mitchell garnered three pitching victories as a junior but is currently sidelined with an injury.

From the junior class, brothers Landon Gomes and Hunter Gomes are key returners who made an impact in 2022. Landon, an outfielder, batted .328 and Hunter was 8-0 from the mound with a 2.53 ERA.

Additional arms on the bump are Gabe Dotterweich, Porter Sprovero, Nate Humphrey and Lucas Brown. Joining Brady and Cappello on the other end of the battery is Joey Smith.

Joseph and Sprovero are at first base while Jacob Bunting and Riley Turner are competing for time at second base. Camden Kackley moves into shortstop, replacing all-state player Aryan Patel, and Hunter Gomes is on the hot corner.

More players expected to roam the outfield grass are Dylan Crocker and Harry Swindal.

“I think we have good chemistry,” Mitchell said. “They’re all pulling for each other. We have some position battles but they know we’re all pulling in the same direction. They’re used to winning. They know it starts with team chemistry. These guys understand the teams that win are the teams that do all the small things right.”

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.”

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HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — Some Hanahan residents are unhappy about potential plans for a new apartment complex.

The plot is 17 acres of land near Tanner Hall. Right now the land is zoned for single-family use, but the developer wants to change it to multi-family use to build about 300 apartments.

"It's zoned single-family dwellings and it would hold about 70 additional homes. It's up for rezoning now," said Sean Kennedy, a Tanner Hall resident of 16 years. "I want to point out- this is for the second time in less than six months."

Kennedy says he wants the acres to be homes since that is what the land is zoned for. There are signs all throughout the neighborhood saying, "Say no to re-zoning."

"We have more apartments than what is needed," Kennedy said. "You can go half a mile, a 5-minute walk, and there are hundreds and hundreds of apartments."

"They are going to negatively affect my home, my community, my neighborhood, and my quality of life," said Brittany Wood, a Tanner Hall resident of two years.

The developer, Panther Resident Management, feels differently than the residents. They are requesting the City of Hanahan to re-zone the property.

"We think this project is a huge win-win for the City of Hanahan," said Eric Wardrop, principal at Panther Residential Management. "There are housing shortages all over Charleston. Hanahan is no different."

The planning commission meeting was supposed to happen Tuesday night but now is pushed to February. Wardrop said they have been meeting with city officials and residents to build the best plan for the community.

"[The current plans] included shifting buildings, enhancing landscaping buffers, enhancing security and procedures throughout the complex, fence around the gated community," said Wardrop. "A project like this is not detrimental to Hanahan where housing is expensive; not a lot of affordable options."

Still, Tanner Hall residents are concerned.

"No one wants to see Hanahan become a sea of apartment complexes like you can see in other parts of Charleston," said Wood.

The next planning commission meeting for the City of Hanahan is on February 2.