Mortgage Broker in Moncks Corner, SC

A Moncks Corner factory that’s been manufacturing medical products for half a century will be closing its doors.

Becton Dickinson and Co., known as BD, plans by 2025 to shut down the 274-worker Berkeley County plant where it makes urinary catheters, according to a layoff notice filed with the state labor officials.

Company spokesman Troy Kirkpatrick said in a written statement that employees were told a year ago that the Power House Road location would be closing.

He said it was a “difficult, but necessary, decision to transition all manufacturing from Moncks Corner to other existing ... manufacturing facilities that also produce catheters.”

“This move will help BD leverage existing resources and available capacity, centralize products and, ultimately, streamline operations in order to operate more effectively and efficiently,” Kirkpatrick said.

He added that the Franklin Lakes, N.J.-based medical technology company expects the shift “to occur in waves” over the next two years.

“Once the transfer is completed, we plan to close the Moncks Corner facility,” he said in the statement.

The company also said it’s working with the state and is coordinating with its other sites “to support our employees with future employment opportunities.”

The “delivery solutions” business that includes the catheter business is a laggard within BD’s broader medical segment, with sales rising about 4 percent to $2.36 billion for the first half of the current fiscal year compared to a nearly 13 percent revenue gain for the entire group.

Under its “2025 Strategy,” the company said one of its priorities is to simplify, in part by reducing “complexity across our manufacturing network.”

The 117,000-square-foot plant had been run since the early 1980s by C.R. Bard Inc., which Becton Dickinson acquired in 2017. Just months before the deal, the catheter industry pioneer disclosed plans to invest $16 million and add 50 jobs in Moncks Corner.

The factory itself has been around since the late 1960s.

The original 82,000-square-foot structure was built by Aerovox Corp., which processed aluminum for use in electronic components and audio equipment. It closed up shop in Berkeley County after a few years.

The next owner also didn’t stay long. Sprague Electric, which supplied parts to the refrigeration industry, sold the plant in 1972 to a division of Narco Scientific Industries that manufactured disposable health care products.

Davol Inc., which made medical filters in Moncks Corner, took over the site in 1977, three years before International Paper sold the subsidiary to C.R. Bard.

Shortly before it was acquired by BD, the catheter maker reported that the plant could turn out 80,000 of the drainage devices each day. The company also described the manufacturing process in Moncks Corner as “quite tedious” and labor intensive.

“Layers upon layers of latex are dipped to ensure quality and preciseness,” C.R. Bard posted on its website in 2017.

Remember how excited lots of people were in 2021 and 2022 about I-bonds, the federal savings bonds with interest rates linked to inflation?

Toward the end of 2021 banks were still paying less than 1 percent interest on savings accounts, but I-bonds were paying an annualized 7.12 percent, which increased to 9.62 percent in May 2022.

Much has changed since then.

Today, it’s easy to find a bank certificate of deposit that pays at least 5 percent interest, but the current I-bond rate is 4.3 percent — about the same as my savings account. That’s still not bad, considering I-bond earnings are exempt from state and local taxes, but it’s nothing like the premium I-bonds were offering just a year ago.

Inevitably, people who jumped into I-bonds for the sky-high interest offered between November of 2021 and November of 2022 and going to wonder if it would make sense to cash out and put the money elsewhere.

Here are some things to know:

That last part is important, because those 9.62 percent I-bonds had a fixed rate of zero. That means those bonds aren’t earning 4.3 percent at the current rate, but 3.38 percent. That’s because the latest rate includes a 0.9 percent fixed rate, which only applies to newly bought I-bonds.

Conversely, someone who bought an I-bond back in early 2000 has been earning a fixed rate of 3.6 percent plus the six-month inflation rate. Those lucky savers are currently earning 7.04 percent on the same bonds that pay 4.3 percent to new purchasers.

Okay, I know this is all a bit wonky and complicated, but that’s how it works. The combined interest rate an I-bond pays depends on when it was purchased.

One takeaway is that people who bought I-bonds for the high interest rates offered, but plan to hold them for the long term, could be better off selling them and then buying new ones.

Why? Because current I-bonds have that 0.9 percent fixed rate that’s paid in addition to the inflation rate, while any I-bond sold between Nov. 1, 2019, and May 1, 2022, has a fixed rate of zero.

The current 0.9 percent fixed rate is far from the highest ever offered, but it’s the highest offered since the end of April 2009. Both the fixed rate and the inflation rate will change again on Nov. 1.

For more details, or to buy an I-bond, go to treasurydirect.gov.

There is a $10,000 per-person limit on annual I-bond purchases, and they can only be purchased online, unless a person is buying one using a federal income tax refund.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Lacey Park in Moncks Corner is considered a staple for the town, a place where parents can bring their kids and relax. Over the years neighbors said the park has been neglected and there have been no efforts to fix it.

"Right now If you go to Lacey Park the swings is about all you have," said longtime Moncks Corner resident Thomas Hamilton. "I’m telling you a lot of these moms who want to bring their kids they won’t go there and it needs to be cleaned up."

Moncks Corner Lacey Park News 4. (WCIV, June 27, 2023).

Hamilton has been fighting for many years to revive one of his favorite parks. He described the playground's equipment as old and uncared for and he blames town leaders for neglecting the park.

"I have been pushing for new tennis courts, pickle ball courts, flash pads for the kids, and eventually a Rex center for Moncks Corner," continued Hamilton. "It seems like the town of Moncks Corner all they want to do is put time and money and effort into the ball field and to that Rex center up there and the rest of the parks get neglected."

Read more: Multigenerational family emotionally moved by International African American Museum opening.

Recently town leaders passed a 15 percent tax increase and Hamilton believes some of the money should go towards the park's revitalization.

"We should be getting more tax revenue and I just feel like the city council and the mayor and the town administrator needs to be looking at these parks and start asking what can we do for the residents," said Hamilton.

News 4 reached out to Moncks Corner Officials and asked if Lacey Park would get attention anytime soon, and in a response they said: "The Town of Moncks Corner began developing a Parks Master Plan last year to evaluate our parks and help establish priorities for refurbishing our existing facilities. We were also able to identify what recreation needs are not being met. This study was based on a comprehensive survey sent out to our residents, which showed support to improve some of our older parks, increase funding, as well as add new facilities."

The spokesperson from the town continued: "The study is expected to be completed in the next two months and will provide Town Council with specific recommendations and prioritizations for all the parks. In the meantime, Town staff has been working to maintain the existing facilities but has, at times, been challenged with long lead times in getting replacement parts. If anyone sees anything that seems unsafe with any of our facilities, we ask that they contact us at 843-719-7900, so we can address it as soon as possible. Improving our older parks, including Lacey Park, has been, and continues to be a Town priority. We look forward to accomplishing it with the support of our residents. "

Winning for the sixth straight game since dropping its opener in the Dixie Youth 12U O-Zone state tournament, Moncks Corner edged Greer, 2-1, in the championship game at the Moncks Corner Regional Recreation Complex July 14.

The host team secured two victories on the final day of the tournament to punch its ticket to the DYB Div. I O-Zone World Series in Ruston, Louisiana Aug 4-9. Coach Landy Cox’s bunch doubled up Gregg Park 4-2 in the morning, then avenged it’s opening loss from July 8 in the championship game.

“I was questioning whether we could win but I didn’t let them know that,” Cox said. “They’re too young to know they’re not supposed to win six games in a row like that. I guess they were smarter than me.”

Moncks Corner pitcher Nicholas Stephens hurled a four-hitter and struck out four batters to garner the victory on the mound in the championship game.

Moncks Corner grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Carson Hainline singled and scored on a wild pitch. Landyn Cox singled hard to the outfield, scoring Dougie Floyd from second base, to make it 2-0 in the top of the fourth.

Greer plated a run in the bottom of the fourth but couldn’t scratch again against Stephens. Greer got the tying run in scoring position in the fifth inning but Stephens stranded the runner at second base. He retired the side in order in the bottom of the sixth, capping a spectacular run to the title.

“It’s one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do, win six games in seven days when you’re facing elimination each day,” Cox said. “I’m not sure that team doesn’t outweigh us 40 pounds a kid but our kids are tough.”

Moncks Corner left no doubt about that on short rest. It played past midnight the night before because of a weather delay, staying alive and handing Gregg Park its first loss, 7-3.

Moncks Corner then lost a coin toss to Greer and had to play Gregg Park again in the morning less than 10 hours later, with a spot in the title game on the line. It didn’t cut corners in preparation for the final day even though everybody got to bed after 1 in the morning.

“Somebody asked if we were going to hit in the morning and I said ’you darn right,” Cox said. “We met at 8:30 in the morning at Berkeley High School and kept our same routine.”

Tied 1-1 after two and a half innings, Moncks Corner plated three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take control against Gregg Park (from Aiken County). Gregg Park managed a single run in the top of the fourth inning but got not closer.

Carter Hainline was 2 for 2 and scored a run while Carson Hainline and Davis Owens knocked in runs.

Moncks Corner pitchers Floyd and Mason Prince scattered five hits and struck out four batters. Floyd hurled four innings to garner the win.

Moncks Corner’s other wins after falling, 9-8, to Greer in the tournament opener were over Hartsville Northern (11-0), Greenwood (12-0) and Mt. Pleasant (5-4).

More team members are Ansel Todd, Caleb Morris, Jaxson Stackley, Layne Lucas and Layton Oliver. Cox’s assistant coaches are Ryan Owens and Doug Floyd.

Moncks Corner begins the world series against the host team at 10 a.m. on Aug. 4.

Moncks Corner represents South Carolina and could square off against other state champions from Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Arkansas and Mississippi.

“We’re just gonna play our small ball, pitch and play defense and see where we stack up against everybody else,” Cox said. “I think our kids average about 75 pounds. We’re not big but we’ll fight you.”

A new apartment development soon will open in a rapidly developing area of Moncks Corner.

Waterleaf at Foxbank will feature 318 units in three-story buildings between the residential neighborhood Foxbank and Cypress Gardens Road.

The one- to three-bedroom units include one to two bathrooms and range from 885 square feet to 1,510 square feet. Monthly rents will be $1,580 to $2,265.

Work continues on the project, and the Waterleaf website says the complex will open soon.

The development is near the Publix-anchored Moncks Corner Marketplace and several restaurant and retail structures under development along U.S. Highway 52, including fast-food restaurant Wendy’s and donut shop Dunkin’, as well as oil change site Valvoline.

The area has seen several new housing developments in recent years, with others on the way.

Southern expansion

A Charleston-based marina owner is unveiling a new addition in South Florida.

Port 32 Marinas recently completed construction of a full-service site in Fort Lauderdale that includes dry storage and can accommodate vessels from small tenders to yachts up to 180 feet.

The 3-acre yacht basin can accommodate up to 32 yachts. It offers 278 short and long-term dry storage slips up to 55 feet, and 28,000 square feet of commercial space for leasable marine use.

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The marina also includes a 150-ton travelift which can lift vessels up to 120 feet, a 60-ton yard transporter, and forklift with elevating cab for increased visibility and safety.

The newly constructed wet slips are designed to accommodate vessels up to 150 feet for in-water repairs and refits. As a self-service marina, owners and captains may elect to bring their own crew or use one of the pre-approved vendors. The facility also offers safe wet slip hurricane storage and is designed to withstand 175 mph winds.

Port 32 also owns marinas in several other Florida cities, including Jacksonville, Palm Beach Gardens, Tierra Verde, Tampa, Naples, Cape Coral, Marco Island and Lighthouse Point.

On Point(e)

The recently sold Palm Point apartment complex in North Charleston has been renamed.

The 112 rental units at 2561 Fassitt Road are now known as Retreat at Palm Pointe.

As previously reported, an affiliate of New York City-based Prospect Lane paid $13.25 million on June 12 for the two-story multifamily development near Ashley Phosphate and Stall roads.

The apartments were built in 1991 and were previously owned by Cohen Investment Group of Virginia Beach, Va.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Friday, January 27, 2023) – There will be a community-wide job fair happening Wednesday, February 1 in the Assembly Room of the Berkeley County Administration Building, located at 1003 N. Highway 52 in Moncks Corner.

The event will be open to Berkeley County high school students from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the general public from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The event will provide opportunities for Berkeley County industries that are hiring to connect with job-seeking residents and high school seniors. Employment opportunities in healthcare, manufacturing, law enforcement, hospitality, construction, information technology and other career fields will be represented. Berkeley County Government will also be on-hand to discuss its open positions.

Attendees are urged to bring an updated resume and come prepared to interview on the spot, if necessary.

For questions, please contact Berkeley County Human Resources at 843-719-4163.

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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Friday, February 3, 2023) – Berkeley County received a ‘Clean Report’ or ‘Unmodified Opinion’ following a 2022 independent audit. The audit was presented to County Council on Monday, January 23, 2023 from the County’s outside auditors, Mauldin & Jenkins. Watch the full County Council meeting HERE.

“I’m pleased to say we do not have any audit findings to report to you on this year, meaning we noted no material weaknesses or sufficient deficiencies in the County’s internal controls in our audit. …Being one of the largest counties in South Carolina, you obviously have a significant amount of financial activity for which you have to account for. In addition, with all the new County standards and changes that are being implemented each year—and really just the complexity of all involved in the financial reporting process—it makes it all that more impressive to be able to present you all an audit with a clean opinion and no audit findings.” – David Irwin, CPA Partner, Mauldin & Jenkins

The report represents the best possible opinion the County can receive. The County has received this opinion several years in a row.

“Government has a fundamental responsibility to be effective stewards of the taxpayer’s money and this audit result reflects just that. A special thanks to my colleagues on County Council for their work throughout the budget process and most importantly to each and every Berkeley County employee for your daily efforts throughout the year. This TEAM effort allows us to continue to offer high level services while keeping our county government taxes the lowest in South Carolina.” -Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb

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-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-