Florence County EOC remains at OPCON 2 (Enhanced Awareness) and continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation.
Florence County Council’s Emergency Proclamation declaring a State of Emergency for Florence County remains in effect.
Restricted public access to all county facilities remains in effect.
 
As of Tuesday, April 07, 2020, there are five (5) confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in Florence County and forty-five (45) confirmed positive cases of COVID-19.
 
Health Care Information:
 
There are two locations in the Pee Dee area designated for “First Responder” testing. Those are locations are: Hartsville Medical Associates 206 Swift Creek Rd Hartsville SC 29550 and North Strand ER - Ambulance Bay Entrance 806 Hwy 17S N. Myrtle Beach SC.
 
McLeod Health is now offering FREE virtual screenings for the Coronavirus in South Carolina through McLeod TeleHealth. If you are experiencing fever, sore throat, cough, or shortness of breath, you can connect through video with a trained medical professional anytime from anywhere using a computer, smartphone or tablet. To access this free service, enter the code COVID19 when you sign-up.
 
MUSC Virtual Care visits and Prisma Health Virtual Care visits are free. Use the promo code "COVID19." Additional healthcare facilities may offer free virtual care soon. https://campaigns.muschealth.org/virtual-care/index.html https://www.palmettohealth.org/medical-services/other-services/smartexam Lab Corps and Quest can now test for COVID-19 in addition to DHEC. SC Department of Health and Environmental Control Website: https://www.scdhec.gov/health/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease- 2019-covid- 19 Center of Disease Control and Prevention Website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
 
State Status:
 
Per DHEC, projections for new cases of COVID-19 in the state through May 2 are 8,053 cases; however, projected data is estimated and may change significantly due to various factors.
 
On Tuesday, April 07, 2020, DHEC reports 2,417 cases and 51 deaths in South Carolina. Contact investigations show there is a possibility for community spread.

Governor Henry McMaster has ordered all South Carolinians must remain at home or work unless visiting family, exercising, or obtaining essential goods or services.
 
 Governor’s Henry McMaster is holding COVID-19 Press Conferences daily.
 
Daily prevention measures South Carolinians can take to protect the health and safety of everyone include: • Social distancing when all possible • staying home if you’re sick and contacting your health care provider • washing your hands often • covering your cough, • Regularly and effective cleaning commonly touched surfaces

The South Carolina Department of Commerce has added a page to its website offering helpful information to small businesses dealing with the Covid-19 Pandemic:

https://sccommerce.com/doing-business-here/join-community/emergency-preparedness

The City of Johnsonville has made changes to daily operating procedures and closed some public venues to protect its citizens, customers and employees in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. 

            “I have met with City Administrator Jim Smith and we have decided to take a proactive approach to this pandemic rather than be reactive,” said Johnsonville mayor Johnny Hanna.   

            The following temporary procedure changes are effective immediately in Johnsonville:

• No visitors or walk-in payments are allowed at City Hall.  Customer are required to make payments at the drive-thru window.
• The Community Building is closed and not available for public or private events.
• The City will not disconnect any water service for non-payment in order to give customers extra time to make payments.  The City will continue to read meters and send bills and customers are encouraged not to build big account balances.
• City employees who must interact with customers have been instructed to follow the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) safety guidelines.

Mayor Hanna and the Johnsonville City Council urge all citizens to stay calm during the Coronavirus pandemic and use these common-sense practices:

• Avoid close interaction with other people and use social distancing.
• Avoid public gatherings of 50 or more persons.
• Wash you hands frequently for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water.
• Use sensible buying habits and do not hoard products that may prevent others from spreading the virus.

“The City is simply urging citizens and customers not to panic and keep Johnsonville safe.

Together we will get through these difficult times,” concluded mayor Hanna.

            The City of Johnsonville will continue to monitor the continuously changing situation with the Covid-19 virus pandemic and issue updates as needed.

The City of Johnsonville has submitted an entry application and video for a Hometown Takeover by HGTV.  Ben and Erin Napier will host the six-episode television show next year when they lead a team of renovation professionals and makeover a small town somewhere in America.   To read more and view Johnsonville's video, click the headline above. Read More

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The City of Johnsonville recognized mayor Joseph Stevens Dukes for 38 years of service to the City with an engraved train bell at its City Council meeting on Tuesday, November 5.  Dukes was elected to Johnsonville City Council in 1981 and has been serving as mayor since 2004.

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The Florence County Board of Elections & Voter Registration has confirmed election results for the City of Johnsonville.  Johnny Hanna has been elected Mayor and Frankie Poston and Dennis Bailey have been elected to City Council for terms of four years.  Gary Arthurs has been re-elected to another four-year term on Council.

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At a special called meeting on Tuesday, October 22, Johnsonville City Council voted unanimously to modify some aspects of the water rate increase which took effect in July of this year.

 Water customers will be billed for the specific amount of water consumed on a monthly basis.  The rate structure had been set up to round up to the next 1,000-gallon increment on bills. 

 Depending on the exact amount used, consumers should see a slight decrease in the total bill amount.

 “Council decided to take another look after hearing feedback from customers,” said Johnsonville Mayor Steve Dukes.  “We understand that many of our customers live on tight budgets.   Although it is not a significant amount, we are happy to make the adjustment to help our citizens,” Dukes concluded.

The City of Johnsonville has adopted new water and sewer rates which are taking effect for the first full billing cycle of the new fiscal year which began July 1, 2019. 

City Council approved the new rates based on the results of a rate study conducted by The Wooten Company.  In a presentation at the City Council meeting on June 4, company representative Gary Hartong explained that the new rates would change from a declining rate to a fixed rate with a variable rate for every thousand gallons used.

“This cost of service study was performed earlier this year and reflects actual costs to serve Johnsonville water, sewer and sanitation customers,” said City Administrator Jim Smith.

“The City has not increased utility rates for several years and the new rates will allow Johnsonville to remain cost-competitive with surrounding municipalities in Florence County,” added Smith.

City Council meetings are open to the public.  Agendas are posted at the Johnsonville Post Office, front door of City Hall and at www.cityofjohnsonville.com at least 24 hours before each meeting.  Anyone with questions regarding the new rates can contact City Hall at 843-386-2069.

Click here for new rates.

The Lake City Housing Authority has donated a wooden gazebo to the City of Johnsonville.  The City placed the gazebo near the boat ramp at Odell Venters Landing for public use.

Johnsonville Police Chief Ron Douglas acquired the gazebo and volunteered to replace some of the railings and stain the woodwork.

Odell Venters Landing , statue of General Francis Marion, the park shelter and the gazebo are maintained by the City of Johnsonville Streets and Sanitation Department.

Johnsonville voters defeated a proposal to reduce the size of City Council from six seats to four in a referendum held Tuesday, June 25.  The unofficial results show 93 residents voted “no” and only 25 voted in favor of reducing the council size.

 “With the Mayor and two Councilmen not running for re-election in November, we saw this as a good time to reduce the size of council if the citizens wanted,” commented City Administrator Jim Smith.  

 “Also, with that many races for open seats, the election will cost the taxpayers in the City of Johnsonville over $10,000 this November,” Smith added.

 In the past, there has not been a lot of interest in running for Council seats.  Smith hopes citizens who strongly opposed the reduction, will step up and run for office.

 The filing period will begin in August for candidates wishing to run for Johnsonville City Council or Mayor.

 “The voters have spoken, and we do not see a downside either way,” Smith concluded.

Edward "Dwight" Carraway, Jr., died Saturday, June 22 at his home in Myrtle Beach.  He was a resident of Johnsonville from childhood until the early 1980's.   

Carraway was elected to Johnsonville City Council at the age of 20 in 1976 which is the South Carolina record for the youngest person ever elected to public office.   He was a classmate of  current Mayor Steve Dukes.

Graveside services will be 5:00 PM, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at Harmon Cemetery, Hemingway.  The family will receive friends from 3:00 – 4:00 PM, Wednesday, June 26, 2019, at Carolina Funeral Home, Scranton.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Marie Haselden was sworn in as a member of the Johnsonville City Council by Judge John Kirven on Tuesday, June 4.  A native of Johnsonville, Haselden won the seat in a special election held in May 2019. 

Johnsonville City Councilman Patrick Nettles died suddenly in February.  Haselden will serve the remainder of that term which expires in December 2021.

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By SHAMIRA McCRAY smccray@florencenews.com

The Josh Brannon Band will be the featured entertainment on Friday, May 17 at the Johnsonville Heritage Festival.  The local band from Georgetown County will play country music favorites from 8:00 until 11:00 p.m. 

Radio D.J.  Dan E. Lockemy will be at the festival Friday night and all day Saturday (May 18) with games and other entertainment for kids and the whole family.  HA HA the Clown also will be at the festival Saturday offering free face painting.

The festival features a baking contest on Friday and a barbecue chicken cook-off on Saturday.  Vendors will be selling food, arts, crafts and other goods during the two-day festival.  Admission is FREE!

Wilson “Sonny” Cox Hardee, 84, passed away Monday, March 25, 2019 at the McLeod Hospice House.   Hardee was born on October 6, 1934 and served as Mayor of Johnsonville from May of 1968 until May of 1970.

The Visitation will be held Friday, March 29 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m.  at Johnsonville United Methodist Church, 250 N. Georgetown Highway, in Johnsonville.  Funeral services will be Saturday, March 30 at 2:00 p.m. at the church.

Morris Funeral Home is in charge.

Duke Energy has officially launched a new and improved online outage map. The new map was designed based on feedback from nearly 2,500 customers. The company asked customers how it could improve the outage map and their overall experience when using the platform. Based on their feedback, the map has several new features:

• Shows the number of affected customers (rather than the number of outages)
• Provides information on the status of crews responding to outages
• Includes more intuitive icons
• A new mobile-friendly format that expands to fit your mobile screen for an optimal experience

 When you visit the map for the first time, you will be guided through a brief tour. The tour provides an overview on how to interact with the map including how to view an outage summary by county, outage history, how to search outage information for a specific location and how to find details about an outage such as the cause and status of the responding crew.

 You can access the new map by visiting duke-energy.com/outagemap. Once on the page, select the state to review outages and bookmark the page for future reference.

 View the video tutorial overview to learn how to navigate and become familiar with the new outage map. You can also access a list of FAQs about the new tool.

Present for the John W. Harris Leadership Award announcement were: Johnsonville City Administrator Jim Smith, Florence School District Five Superintendent Randy Smiley, award recipient Alycesaundra Lyerly, Beta Club Sponsor Adrian Filyaw, and JMS Career Specialist Sally Coker.

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The City of Johnsonville is sad to announce the sudden passing of City Councilman Patrick Nettles, age 47, on Wednesday, February 6.   Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Kim, and the Nettles family. 

Funeral services will be Saturday, February 9 at 2:00 p.m. at Morris Funeral Home Chapel.  Burial will follow at the Garden of Devotion cemetery. 

Click the the headline above for full obituary. 

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The tank which serves Johnsonville water customers in the Kingsburg area was repainted recently.  The lower part of the tower is painted sprearmint  green and the message "Visit Johnsonville South Carolina" in matching color is featured on both sides of the white tank.

Rainy weather did not stop Johnsonville from holding its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 1.  Hundreds of local citizens came to see a variety of vehicles and floats parade down Broadway Street.  Rain did not dampen the Christmas spirit and on went the show.  Click the headline to see more photos. Read More

City of Johnsonville employees from the Waste Water Treatment and Street Departments paid a visit to Kindergarten classes at Johnsonville Elementary School on Tuesday, October 2 and gave the students a chance to see the sanitation truck up close and even sit inside.

 “The kindergarten classes enjoyed the visit by Johnsonville sanitation truck,” said Florence School District Five Superintendent Randy Smiley.  “The students thought it was the biggest truck they had ever seen,” Dr. Smiley continued. 

 According to Smiley, all this week kindergarten classes are being visited by community helpers.  “They are being visited by EMS, the City of Johnsonville, mail delivery, a nurse and the police.  This will help students see all of the helpers in our community that provide services to them and keep them safe.”

The Johnsonville Police Department coordinated a free supper for flood relief workers at the Chic Restaurant on Friday, September 21. 

A free meal was provided to 25 police officers and firefighters from the Nashville, Tennessee area as well as local National Guard members working in lower Marion County.

The Chic Restaurant provided the meals at no charge in appreciation for the services these workers are providing to our community.

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The newly renovated Odell Venters Landing was officially opened to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, June 16.  Senator Hugh Leatherman and Representative Roger Kirby were among the public officials invited by the City of Johnsonville to open the landing on Highway 41/51 just north of the city.

“Odell Venters Landing is used not only by the Johnsonville community, but by boaters and fishermen from surrounding towns and counties as well,” said Johnsonville Mayor Steven Dukes.  “On behalf of all of them, I want to thank Senator Leatherman, Representative Kirby and the rest of the Florence County legislative delegation for securing the funding to create this exceptional recreation facility.” 

Proceeds from the “Water Recreational Resources Fund” were used to fund the $460,000 renovation project.  The fund is distributed to each county based on boat registrations for purposes related to public waterways. 

The City of Johnsonville contracted R.L. Morrison and Sons, Inc. of McClellanville to make the improvements which include a reinforced concrete dual ramp, a new 8’x100’ aluminum floating courtesy dock and a resurfaced parking lot.  Contactor representative Ron Rose of Alpha Construction Company supervised the installation of the ramp.

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NOTICE OF JOB OPENING

 The City of Johnsonville will be accepting applications until position is filled for Water Operator.
 The following qualifications are needed:

• High school graduate
• Valid SC Driver’s License
• Physical condition to allow manual labor to be performed
• Related work experience desirable but not required

Applicant should be willing, able and available to:

• Keep records as directed
• Perform various maintenance and grounds keeping duties
• Work weekends and “on call” as needed
• Attend training classes and be tested for SCDHEC Certification.
• “D” level (Water, Wastewater and Distribution) certification must be obtained within a year of hire

This position is full-time with benefits. Pay will be based on experience.

Please send your resume to mrollins@cityofjohnsonville.com to apply. (No telephone calls please). The City of Johnsonville is an equal opportunity employer.