City of Mullins Awarded $1.5 Million RIA Grant
December 22, 2024 9:10 am
COLUMBIA, S.C. – For its first round of fiscal year 2025 grants, the S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved grant assistance for 34 projects, totaling more than $34 million dollars to address critical infrastructure needs related to public health and the environment while also developing increased capacity for economic opportunities. These projects will benefit more than 91,000 customers in 24 counties across the state. “As one of the fastest-growing states in the country, strategic investments in South Carolina’s water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure will continue to be critical to ensure the state’s future environmental health and safety, facilitate long-term sustainability of local utilities, and catalyze economic development and growth around the state,” said Executive Director Bonnie Ammons. “With the assistance of RIA state grants, local governments and utilities can better prepare for the future and provide reliable service to both existing and new customers.” The majority of grants will fund capital improvements, including projects that will upgrade aging or undersized water mains, rehabilitate or replace aging sewer lines, improve sewer pump stations and treatment plants, and make communities more resilient to flooding and stormwater. Six of the grants will fund projects that will enhance the infrastructure capacity to serve current or planned industrial sites and facilitate job creation for new and existing businesses around the state. Additionally, grants were awarded to 10 communities for planning activities that will help safeguard their long-term viability. These planning grants focus on various local needs, especially rural and small systems, including the mapping and assessment of existing infrastructure, development of capital improvement plans, and evaluations of the effects of stormwater. RIA continues to work with partners to maximize the impact of state grant dollars. This round, the RIA state grant awards will be combined with more than $50 million in local and other funds to carry out the proposed water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure projects. RIA state grants are generally awarded twice a year through a competitive process that considers the need for improved public health, environmental protection, community sustainability and economic development. Applications are selected by the RIA board based on criteria including severity of the problem, expected impact and project feasibility. Recipients share in the cost of infrastructure projects by paying for non-construction or other activities and, oftentimes, providing additional funds for construction. Among the grant recipients for the first round of competitive grants for fiscal year 2025, awarded on Dec. 9, 2024, is: City of Mullins $1,500,000 About S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority The S.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) was created to help communities with financing for qualified infrastructure projects. Infrastructure primarily refers to water and waste water systems as well as stormwater drainage. Chaired by the Secretary of Commerce, the RIA is governed by a board of directors, including six members who reside in or represent distressed and/or least developed counties.
Read More >City Of Mullins Awarded CDBG Funding
December 21, 2024 9:57 pm
COLUMBIA, S.C. – Eighteen communities from around South Carolina are receiving community development grant funds totaling more than $6.9 million for public improvement projects. This funding comes from the South Carolina Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which biannually awards grants to aid municipal governments for the purpose of improving economic opportunities and meeting community revitalization needs. The S.C. Department of Commerce (S.C. Commerce) awards the CDBG funds which will directly benefit 44,160 residents and total $6,975,048. Projects receiving Fall 2024 CDBG funding included: City of Mullins Demolition $567,000
Read More >Latta Woman Charged For Allegedly Exposing Baby, 3-Year-Old To Illegal Narcotics
December 19, 2024 6:50 pm
Haley Victoria Grimsley, 23 years old of Latta, has been arrested by Marion County Sheriff’s deputies following an investigation by their Criminal Investigation Division. Grimsley is charged with Unlawfully place a child at risk of or cause harm or willfully abandon (2 counts). It is alleged that in October 2024, Grimsley exposed her newborn baby as well as her 3-year-old child to illegal narcotics. This was determined via drug screenings of both children. Haley Grimsley is currently being held at the Marion County Detention Center. **All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Read More >Two People Critically Injured, One Dead In Mullins
December 15, 2024 11:39 pm
Mullins Police Department was dispatched to shots fired call to the 100 block of East Dogwood Avenue on Sunday. Upon arrival it was determined that three individuals had been shot. Two have were critically injured and the third was pronounced dead at the scene. SLED has been contacted and will be assisting with the case.
Read More >Marion County Sheriff’s Office Charges Woman With Cruelty To Children, Other Charges
December 13, 2024 7:11 am
Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies have arrested Crystal Patricia Robinson, 34 years old of Marion. Robinson has been charged by deputies as well as the Marion County Criminal Investigation Division with the following: Cruelty to Children, Unlawfully placing a child at risk of or cause harm or willfully abandon (4 counts) and Interfering with court order/custody under the age 16 years old using threat or force. It is alleged that on November 18, 2024, Crystal Robinson inflicted unnecessary pain and suffering upon her minor child by striking the child about the face, causing the child to fall. Upon subsequent investigation, it was learned that Robinson had allegedly abandoned her children for hours at a time at an abandoned home while she worked. It is further alleged that after Robinson signed the agreement for her children to be taken into protective custody, she fled the area with her children. Robinson is currently being held at the Marion County Detention Center. The children have been taken into emergency protective custody by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office and placed with the South Carolina Department of Social Services. *All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Read More >Remains of Korean War Soldier From Mullins To Be Buried in Florence
December 4, 2024 2:36 pm
FORT KNOX, Ky. – The remains of U.S. Army Cpl. John B. Miller, a Soldier killed during the Korean War, will be interred Dec. 6 at Florence National Cemetery, Florence, South Carolina. Cox-Collins Funeral Home, Mullins, South Carolina, will perform graveside services preceding the interment. A native of Mullins, Miller was a member of Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action Dec. 2, 1950, at age 22, after his unit was attacked by enemy forces as they attempted to withdraw near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Miller was accounted for by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency Sept. 4, 2024, after his remains were exhumed in April 2021 from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific – also known as the Punchbowl – Honolulu, Hawaii, for laboratory analysis and identification. The Past Conflict Repatriations Branch, under the Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations Division at the U.S. Army Human Resources Command, Fort Knox, Kentucky, plays a key role in the process of locating Family members of missing Soldiers from WWII, the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The process begins with locating the Family member most closely related to the missing Soldier, known as the primary next of kin, followed by a request for Family reference samples or DNA, which are used as a main source in identifying remains. Once a Soldier has been identified by the Armed Forces Medical Examiner, the PCRB notifies and briefs the Family about the results of historical, forensic and DNA reports, benefits and the mortuary process including burial with full military honors.
Read More >December 17th Proclaimed Michael Latu Day In Memory of Late Officer
December 1, 2024 1:53 pm
From The Marion County Sheriff’s Office The Marion County Council recently approved a proclamation officially making December 17th Michael Latu Day in Marion County. Deputy “Mike” Latu was killed in the line of duty on December 17, 2019, in a single-vehicle crash under the highway 76/501 overpass (near Walmart) while responding to assist another deputy. We are asking our community to join us in remembering Mike by wearing blue, hanging a blue ribbon, or general acts of kindness. Let us come together to remember and honor our friend and brother. Mike will never be forgotten. #149
Read More >PICK 42 Foundation Holds Free Farmers Market And Free Store In Lake View
November 26, 2024 5:58 pm
The PICK 42 Foundation held a free farmers market and a free store at the Lake View Community Center today. There were all kinds of things available in the community center including appliances, clothing, decorations, hand sanitizer, and more. Outside was fresh produce including various greens, sweet potatoes, etc. People were lined up outside to participate in the event. It was a great giveaway during this time of Thanksgiving. PHOTO GALLERY Photos by Betsy Finklea/The Dillon County News, LLC
Read More >Marion County Chief Deputy Announces Retirement
November 25, 2024 12:30 pm
On Friday, November 22nd, Marion County Chief Deputy Terry G. Causey announced his retirement effective January 7th, 2025. Chief Deputy Causey has been with the Marion County Sheriff’s Office for eight years following 31 years of service with the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Read More >Pee Dee Academy Wins SCISA AA State Championship
November 25, 2024 9:47 am
The Pee Dee Academy Golden Eagles capped off a perfect undefeated season with a 52-14 win over the Bethesda Academy Blazers 52-14 on Saturday to win the SCISA AA State Championship. Pee Dee Academy kicked off to Bethesda Academy to begin the game. The Blazers quickly got onto the scoreboard with a 62-yard rushing touchdown with 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter. The 2-point conversion was good to give Bethesda Academy an early 8-0 lead over Pee Dee Academy. After the kickoff, Pee Dee Academy found themselves on their own 23-yard line. The Golden Eagles went to work offensively and began to move the football and capped off the drive with a 45-yard pass from Colby Richardson to Tristan Heckman. Tristan Heckman rushed for the 2-point conversion to knot the score at 8. Bethesda Academy was forced to punt to Pee Dee Academy where the Golden Eagles began from their own 37-yard line. Pee Dee Academy Golden Eagles moved the football downfield, and Tristan Heckman rushed for a 23-yard touchdown to give the Pee Dee Eagles a 14-8 lead. The PAT was missed. Pee Dee Academy kicked off to Bethesda Academy who began offense on their own 41-yard line. With under a minute remaining in the first quarter, the Blazers added a rushing touchdown to tie the score at 14. The 2-point conversion failed. With about 11 minutes remaining in the first half, Pee Dee Academy had the football on their own 29-yard line. The Golden Eagles moved the football quickly and found themselves on Bethesda Academy’s 8-yard line. The drive was capped off with an 8-yard rushing touchdown by Jamison Rogers. Pee Dee Academy converted the 2-point play to go up 22-14. Bethesda Academy began on their own 37-yard line. The Blazers faced a fourth down on Pee Dee Academy’s 34-yard line. After a 2-yard gain by the Blazers, Pee Dee Academy took possession on downs. Pee Dee Academy’s drive stalled, and the Golden Eagles punted. Bethesda Academy had the football on their own 5-yard line. With a minute remaining in the first half, Pee Dee Academy hit paydirt with a 32-yard pass from Colby Richardson to Miles Trussell. The Golden Eagles made the 2-point conversion to go up 30-14 at halftime. Pee Dee Academy received the kickoff to begin play in the third quarter. The drive ended with a pass interception on Bethesda Academy’s 14-yard line. The Blazers’ offense moved the football to Pee Dee Academy’s 35-yard line where the drive stalled, and Pee Dee Academy took possession on Bethesda Academy 40-yard line on downs. The third quarter ended with Pee Dee Academy on top 30-14. With about 9 minutes remaining in the contest, Miles Trussell intercepted a Bethesda Academy pass on Bethesda Academy’s 16-yard line. The Golden Eagles hit paydirt with a rushing touchdown and added the 2-point conversion to go up 38-14. With about 8 minutes remaining in the game, Pee Dee Academy recovered a fumble on their 26-yard line. Pee Dee Academy moved the football towards the end zone, and Tristan Heckman carried the pigskin into the end zone for 6 points with about 4 minutes remaining in the game. The 2-point conversion was good. Pee Dee Academy led 46-14. The final score of the game came on an interception by Bennett Causey who returned it for the 30-yard score. The PAT failed. The game ended with Pee Dee Academy as the State Champions!
Read More >Fowler Furniture Holds Grand Opening
November 22, 2024 5:51 pm
Fowler Furniture held a Grand Opening on Friday, November 22, at 10:00 a.m. at 214 East McIntyre, Mullins, S.C. Family, friends, and dignitaries were present for this festive event. The Mullins Chamber welcomed the Fowler Furniture to its new location. The Chamber also thanked Fowler Furniture for the prior service and commitment to Mullins and the surrounding areas plus thanked him for this new location. Rick Fowler thanked everyone for being there. He also thanked his family and the members of his team for the hard work involved in getting the site ready for opening. Fowler extended special thanks to Anderson Brothers Bank for their help in this new venture. Fowler Furniture is very appreciative of the support the community has shown in the past and welcomes everyone for their continued support. Mullins Print and Ship is also located within Fowler Furniture. Britney also thanked everyone for the support. This business offers yard signs, banners, blue prints, etc. Visit each of these businesses on each’s website for more information. Everyone was invited to enjoy the refreshments and fellowship after the opening. PHOTO GALLERY Photos by JOhnnie Daniels/The Dillon County News, LLC
Read More >Mullins Soldier Accounted For From Korean War
November 20, 2024 11:44 pm
WASHINGTON – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) previously announced U.S. Army Cpl. John B. Miller, 22, of Mullins, South Carolina, killed during the Korean War, was accounted for Sept. 4, 2024. Miller’s family recently received their full briefing on his identification, therefore, additional details on his identification can be shared. In November 1950, Miller was a member of Heavy Mortar Company, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He was reported missing in action on Dec. 2, 1950, after his unit was attacked by enemy forces as they attempted to withdraw near the Chosin Reservoir, North Korea. Following the battle, his remains could not be recovered. In the fall of 1953, during Operation Glory, North Korea unilaterally turned over remains to the United States, including one set, designated Unknown X-15743. Those remains were reportedly recovered from prisoner of war camps, United Nations cemeteries and isolated burial sites. None of the remains could be positivity identified as Miller. Those unidentified remains were subsequently buried as an Unknown in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. In April 2021, DPAA personnel disinterred Unknown X-15743 as part of the Korean War disinterment project and sent the remains to the DPAA laboratory for analysis. To identify Miller’s remains, scientists from DPAA used dental and anthropological analysis, as well as other circumstantial evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. Miller’s name is recorded on the Courts of the Missing at the Punchbowl, along with the others who are still missing from the Korean War. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. Miller will be buried in Florence, South Carolina, on Dec. 6, 2024.
Read More >Pee Dee Academy Gets Win Over Greenwood Christian
November 16, 2024 8:57 pm
The Pee Dee Golden Eagles outscored the Greenwood Christian Hawks 69-33 in playoff action played in Mullins on Friday, November 15 before a large crowd. Greenwood Christian kicked off to Pee Dee to begin the football action. Pee Dee Academy’s Tristan Heckman returned the kickoff 55 yards to give the Golden Eagles a 6-0 lead. The PAT was good. With only about a minute gone in the game Pee Dee was up 7-0. After the kickoff, Greenwood Christian began offense on their own 25-yard line. Greenwood Christian turned possession over on downs. Pee Dee Academy was also forced to punt that placed the football on Greenwood Christian’s 4-yard line. Pee Dee Academy’s defense rose to the occasion, and the Hawks punted. Pee Dee had possession on Greenwood Christian’s 35-yard line. Pee Dee Academy turned the football over to Greenwood Christian who began on their own 32-yard line. The Hawks punted on fourth down, and the Golden Eagles took over on their own 35-yard line. With 3 minutes remaining in the first half, Pee Dee Academy scored. The PAT was good by Tristan Heckman, and Pee Dee led 14-0. Greenwood Christian got onto the scoreboard with a 25-yard pass for a touchdown with a minute remaining in the first quarter. The PAT was good to cut the lead to 7 points, 14-7. The first quarter would end with this score. Pee Dee Academy completed a 15-yard pass to O’maury Mckelvey for a touchdown with 10 minutes remaining in the first half. The Golden Eagles were up 20-7. Pee Dee Academy completed a 60-yard pass to Bennett Causey for a touchdown with 7 minutes left in the second quarter. The 2-point conversion was good to give Pee Dee a 28-7 lead. With 5 minutes to go in the first half, the Hawks scored a touchdown and the PAT to cut the lead to 14 points, 28-14. Pee Dee Academy’s Ryan Small rushed for a 35-yard touchdown with 4 minutes left in the first half. The PAT was good. Pee Dee led 35-14. With 2 minutes remaining in the first half, the Golden Eagles’ Tristan Heckman rushed for a 54-yard touchdown to go up 42-14. The Pee Dee Golden Eagles were not through with the scoring in the first half as there was almost another minute remaining on the scoreboard. Miles Trussell was on the receiving end of a pass that was good for a 45-yard score. Pee Dee Academy led 48-14. This would be the score at halftime. Pee Dee Academy kicked off to Greenwood Christian in the third quarter to begin the second half of play. With under 6 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Greenwood Christian rushed for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed. Pee Dee Academy was up 48-20. The Golden Eagles wasted little time in scoring as Tristan Heckman rushed for a touchdown to give Pee Dee Academy a 54-20 lead. The PAT was good. Pee Dee Academy led 55-20 over the Greenwood Christian Hawks. With 2 minutes left in the third quarter, the Hawks completed a pass for the score. Pee Dee Academy led 55-26. Once again, the Golden Eagles responded with a 60-yard pass completion to Jamison Rogers for the score. The PAT was good. The score was Pee Dee Academy 62 and Greenwood Christian Hawks 26. With 11 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Greenwood Christian rushed for a touchdown. The PAT was good. Pee Dee Academy had 62 points, and the Greenwood Christian Hawks had 33 points. Pee Dee Academy added another score in the fourth quarter. The Pee Dee Academy Golden Eagles are 11-0 for the season and 5-0 in region play in SCISA 2A. Pee Dee Academy will play Bethesda Academy for the State Championship on Saturday, November 23 at 3:30 p.m. at Charleston Southern University. Pee Dee Academy defeated Bethesda Academy 25-22 on October 25. Support your team!
Read More >Mullins Falls To Philip Simmons
November 16, 2024 7:07 am
The Mullins Auctioneers traveled to Charleston to face the Philip Simmons Iron Horses on Friday, November 15, and suffered a 45-12 loss. At the end of the first quarter, the Mullins Auctioneers held a 6-0 lead over the Philip Simmons Iron Horses. In the second quarter of play, the Iron Horses turned up the offense and scored 28 points to take a 28-6 lead at halftime. Philip Simmons scored 6 points on a touchdown pass with 9 minutes to go in the second quarter of play. The PAT was good to give the Iron Horses a 7-6 lead. With 7 minutes remaining in the second quarter, the Iron Horses completed a pass for the score. The 2-point conversion was good. Philip Simmons led 15-6. With 6 minutes left in the first half, Philip Simmons recovered a fumble and scored the touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed but the Iron Horses were up 21-6. With 1 minute left in the first half, Philip Simmons completed a pass for the touchdown. The PAT was good. The Iron Horses led 28-6. In the third quarter, Mullins kicked off to Philip Simmons to begin the second half. The Iron Horses scored with about 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter via a touchdown pass. The PAT was good. Philip Simmons led 35-6. The Iron Horses added a field goal with about 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter to go up 38-6 over the visiting Auctioneers. With 3 minutes left in the third quarter, Philip Simmons added another touchdown pass and a PAT to go up 45-6. The Mullins Auctioneers hit pay dirt with a pass that was good for a touchdown with under a minute to go in the third quarter. The 2-point conversion failed. Mullins ended the season with 7 wins and 4 losses overall and were 3-3 in Region Play. Thanks, Mullins, was all the great plays and memories.
Read More >PDRTA Announces Passenger Appreciation Week: Fare-Free Rides and Special Events Across the Pee Dee Region
November 15, 2024 3:24 pm
FLORENCE – November 15, 2024 – The Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority (PDRTA) is excited to announce Passenger Appreciation Week beginning Monday, November 18, 2024, in celebration of it’s passenger community served throughout the Pee Dee region. Fare-Free Week To make public transportation more accessible and encourage ridership, PDRTA will waive fares on all routes, including those that typically require a fee. This includes routes in Florence County and those serving Myrtle Beach. Fare on these routes will resume on Saturday, November 23rd. Passenger Appreciation Week Highlights: Fare-Free Rides: From Monday, November 18, through Friday, November 22, all passengers can enjoy free rides on all PDRTA routes. Passenger Surveys: Throughout the week, PDRTA staff will conduct passenger surveys to gather valuable feedback. This feedback helps the organization gain insights into ridership habits, preferences, and suggestions for improvement. This data will help PDRTA refine its services and better meet the needs of the community. Community Engagement: Throughout the week, PDRTA will have staff members present on various routes across the region to interact with passengers, answer questions, and collect survey responses. The schedule is as follows: Monday, November 18: Florence County routes and Florence Transit Center, 9:45 a.m. – 2 p.m. Tuesday, November 19: Darlington County routes, Darlington Walmart, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., and Hartsville Walmart, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 20: Marlboro County routes, Carlie C’s, 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Thursday, November 21: Chesterfield County routes, Pageland KJ’s, 9 a.m. – 11 a.m., and Chesterfield Walmart, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. Friday, November 22: Dillon and Marion County routes, Marion Walmart, 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., and Dillon Walmart, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m. About PDRTA: Established in June 1974, PDRTA is the largest Regional Transit Authority in South Carolina and the third largest in the nation and is dedicated to serving the residents of Chesterfield, Darlington, Florence, Marlboro, Dillon, and Marion counties. As the first RTA in South Carolina, PDRTA has spent 50 years connecting communities and providing reliable transit options. The system operates a network of 35 bus routes, including 26 fixed routes, 6 Demand Response routes, and 3 dedicated Workforce routes, serving more than 30,000 passenger trips per month. PDRTA remains committed to connecting communities, promoting sustainable transportation, and fostering regional growth. For more information about PDRTA please call (843) 665-2227, email: info@pdrta.org. or visit https://pdrta.org
Read More >Marion County Holds Chempack Exercise
November 13, 2024 7:24 pm
Marion County held a Chempack Exercise on Wednesday, November 13, at the Marion County Council Office. The exercise participants were ASPR CHEMPACK, City of Marion Police Department, Conway Medical Center, Horry County EMD, Horry County Fire Rescue, Marion County EMD & EMS, the Medical University of South Carolina, Palmetto Poison Control/USC, SC DPH Lowcountry BEPR, SC DPH Pee Dee BEPR, SC EMD Region 4, and SCEMSA. There were Tabletop Exercise Discussions, Hands On – Preparing CHEMPACK Contents for Deployment, Hands On – Auto Injector Training, and Hot Wash. After having lunch, closing comments were made. The Marion County Council is located at the Marion County Administration Building at 2523 Hwy. 76, Marion, S.C. PHOTO GALLERY PHOTOS BY JOHNNIE DANIELS/THE DILLON COUNTY NEWS
Read More >Mullins Will Face Philip Simmons On Friday Night
November 13, 2024 6:58 pm
The Mullins Auctioneers will travel to Charleston on Friday, November 15, for a 2024 First Round South Carolina Football State Championship varsity football game. The Auctioneers have won 7 games this season and lost 3 games while the Iron Horses have won 8 games and lost 2 games. The Auctioneers are 3-3 in Region play this season while the Iron Horses art 5-0 in Region play this season. Support your team.
Read More >Marion County Native Named S.C. State’s Professor of the Year
November 13, 2024 5:57 pm
ORANGEBURG, S.C. – Dr. June Graham-Bethea was not always focused on a career in speech pathology and audiology. Growing up in Marion, South Carolina, she only knew she wanted to help others. So, when she started her undergraduate studies at South Carolina State University, she researched which disciplines might fulfill that quest and interviewed some professionals in those areas. “Speech Pathology was top on the list,” she said, “and after taking classes in the department here at SCSU, I knew that I found what I really wanted to do and a home away from home.” Having earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at SC State, Graham-Betha completed her Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in North Carolina. She spent more than 30 years in Greensboro before returning to SC State as an assistant professor in 2022. It did not take long for her to establish herself as a leader. She has served as the Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology’s acting chair since Fall 2023. Less than a year later, she was named SC State’s Professor of the Year for the College of Graduate and Professional Studies and the overall university. “She has been married for 37 years to a very supportive husband, Malcolm Bethea and has two adult daughters, Kiersten Bethea and Carmen Bethea.” University Relations recently asked Graham-Bethea a series of questions about experiences and her role at SC State. Q: What has inspired you during your journey as an academic? Graham-Bethea: My students are my inspiration! My students inspire me to be the best that I can be and my hope is that they see me as an inspiration to them. Throughout my journey in academia, I have been profoundly inspired by the intellectual dance with my colleagues—those who innovate and create technologies that transform the way we teach and learn. However, what drives me most is witnessing the success of students who face challenges yet persevere. The collective support and mentorship provided to these resilient students often lead them to not only overcome obstacles but to thrive in their academic pursuits. Their determination and triumphs are what ignite my passion for teaching and inspire me every day. Q: How would you describe your teaching philosophy? Graham-Bethea: My teaching philosophy centers around fostering critical thinking and independent learning. All students have the potential to learn and grow but as a Professor I feel that I must model and encourage resilience and persistence. I think that we must tailor our instruction to individual needs and create an inclusive environment where students feel safe. Additionally, as professors must facilitate learning where students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning through exploration, inquiry, and collaborative problem-solving. I incorporate activities that promote analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information challenging my students to question assumptions and multiple perspectives. I am genuinely passionate about the work that I do and hope that my students see this in everything that I do. Q: What drives you as a teacher and/or researcher? Graham-Bethea: Student success is at the heart of my teaching philosophy. Every lesson I craft and every interaction I have with my students is fueled by the desire to see them excel. As a researcher, I am motivated and driven by the need for innovation and mentorship in education. I strive to contribute to the existing body of evidence that showcases new pathways to academic success. It is this commitment to enhancing student outcomes that drives my work and fuels my passion for both teaching and research. Q: What in your career are you most proud of? Graham-Bethea: I am most proud of returning to my Alma Mater and serving as an assistant professor and the acting chair for the Speech Pathology & Audiology Department where I am impacting the future of profession. I am also most proud of the work that I have been able to do with those who are communicatively impaired. Q: What has been your most exciting or valuable experience in your career at SC State? Graham-Bethea: The most exciting and valuable experiences that I have had here at SCSU involve working with the most wonderful people in the world and serving our students because they are the greatest and deserve the highest level of educational rigor that we can provide. It has been my honor and my obligation to provide those experiences to and for them. Q: Tell us about a personal challenge you have encountered and how it affected your life. Graham-Bethea: One of the most significant personal challenges I have faced was relocating to Orangeburg to take on the role of assistant professor while also being close to my mother. The passing of my mother less than a year after my move was an incredibly difficult experience. This loss profoundly impacted my life, teaching me the importance of resilience and the necessity of cherishing every moment. It has reinforced my commitment to mentoring students, as I understand firsthand the value of support during challenging times. Q: Tell us about an anecdote from your life that would allow people to know you better. Graham-Bethea: Growing up as a country girl in the rural town of Marion, South Carolina, shaped my identity and aspirations. My early experiences of growing up in a one parent home instilled in me a strong motivation to pursue higher education and build a prosperous life. I had high school teachers and principals who served as my mentors and encouraged me to envision a future where I would thrive as an educated woman. This humble beginning is a reminder of where I came from and resonates with many who know me, as it reflects my journey toward personal and academic fulfillment. Q: Is there anything else we should know about you and your experiences at SC State? Graham-Bethea: In conclusion, my journey as an educator is defined by the success of my students, a commitment to innovation in teaching, and the personal experiences that shape who I am. Read More >
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Connecting All of Dillon County and Beyond
