Quartz CountertopsNear Cane Bay, SC

Late Sunday afternoon, our media outlet received reports regarding a pair of alleged sexual assaults – or attempted sexual assaults – on a neighborhood trail in Sanctuary Cove, part of the sprawling Cane Bay community in Berkeley County, South Carolina.

Both victims were underage females. One of the victims was nearly raped, according to our sources.

After the second assault took place, one resident reached out to us expressing concern that local authorities were “telling exactly NO one that there is a potential serial offender assaulting young girls in Cane Bay.”

“They have no problem sending out headlines for every car that has been rummaged through or elderly person that went for a long walk and may be missing … but they don’t find it a good idea to warn people their daughters could be in harms way while on the trails?” the resident asked.

We reached out to our law enforcement sources first thing Monday morning. As our inquiries were making their way up the flagpole, the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) issued a news release at approximately 4:32 p.m. EST on Monday announcing it was investigating the two assaults – and searching for a specific suspect.

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“On Monday, November 27 just after 8:00 p.m. (EST), Berkeley County dispatch received a call in reference to an assault,” the release noted. “Deputies arrived at the victim’s house to collect information and learned the victim was assaulted. The victim is a 14-year-old female. The victim described to investigators she was attacked from behind. Due to the way the victim was assaulted, she was unable to provide a description to investigators, initially. The investigation determined the victim was assaulted on the trails near Shadybrook Drive and Cane Bay Boulevard.”

The second incident was reported just five days later.

“On Saturday, December 2 just before 7:00 p.m., Berkeley County dispatch received a call in reference to an assault,” the release noted. “Deputies learned the victim was assaulted and dropped her phone during the incident. The victim is a 15-year-old female. The victim was able to get away from the assailant. Deputies located the victim’s phone on the trail behind Bella Vista Court. The victim was able to provide deputies with a description of the man who attacked her.”

According to the sheriff’s office, the suspect being sought in connection with the assault(s) is a “younger white male with facial hair” who has a skinny build and is approximately 5-foot-7 to 5-foot-8 inches tall. BCSO is searching for this suspect with assistance from the S.C. State Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

“We are using every resource possible to identify a suspect and make an arrest,” sheriff Duane Lewis said. “Detectives are working around the clock to complete this investigation. We have also requested assistance from SLED. I am urging all parents and guardians to please not allow your children to walk alone on the trails at night. Please make sure you are aware of your surroundings.”

Lewis said his agency has increased patrols in the area as it continues to investigate the assaults and has asked Cane Bay neighbors to report any suspicious activity to Berkeley County dispatch at 843-719-4169.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR …

Will Folks is the founding editor of the news outlet you are currently reading. Prior to founding FITSNews, he served as press secretary to the governor of South Carolina. He lives in the Midlands region of the state with his wife and seven children.

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BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Several parents with students at Cane Bay High School are upset after a limited number of tickets were sold for next Saturday’s homecoming dance, which means their children would not be able to attend.

Parents who reached out to News 2 this week said the homecoming dance will be held in the commons area of Cane Bay High School, which can accommodate 700 students. But they said the problem is the school has more than 2,000 students.

Brandi Norwood’s daughter is a junior at the high school. And because she’s on the cheer team, Norwood said she’s expected to participate in all of the homecoming events next week.

“It feels defeating to them. They’re encouraged by staff and admin to come together, to be involved in school spirit—that’s how you build community, but then for them to be told, ‘There’s not enough room. You can’t go.’”

Except for the main event – next Saturday’s homecoming dance – because she did not purchase a ticket in time.

“I was given a link to buy tickets, and I wasn’t in a hurry. I got off of work the next day and attempted to buy tickets and it was sold out,” said Norwood.

Norwood said the dance is typically held in the school’s commons area and the 700-ticket cap is nothing new. But she said she’s never had an issue with purchasing tickets for her two older daughters in the past.

“We were told that it was first-come, first-serve and that the tickets were sold within a day, and the link had been posted the day before in the middle of the day,” Norwood explained.

She said there was not adequate communication from the school prior to that link being sent out; however, another parent says there was.

“It was put out that there were a limited amount of tickets, get your tickets early. That was put out,” said Kristin Tanner, whose child also attends Cane Bay High School.

Norwood claims one reason tickets may have gone quickly is because they were distributed differently than in previous years.

“Sophomores and freshmen were allowed to buy tickets, which in the past as far as I understand, seniors and juniors were given preference and then so on and so forth,” she said.

Norwood said she, along with many other parents, is simply disappointed.

“I’ve heard from a lot of other parents who have seniors who have bought dresses and have been preparing and can’t go to the dance,” she said.

Other parents say they cannot sympathize with those who bought clothes before buying a ticket to the dance.

“You put the cart before the horse. That’s what I say to that,” Tanner said.

News 2 reached out to the Berkeley County School District and received the following statement:

“Tickets to the Cane Bay High School Homecoming Dance were made available to all students in a fair and consistent manner. While all schools would love the opportunity to welcome the entire school population to an event held in one location of the school, that is not possible due to fire codes and capacity restriction of rooms and spaces,” said Katie Tanner, Chief Communications & Engagement Officer, BCSD.

A Charleston real estate investor and land developer is looking ahead to the next commercial venture in Cane Bay Plantation.

Buck Investments, led by Eddie Buck, recently paid $13 million for nearly 45 acres on the northwest corner of the future Fair Winds Boulevard intersection at U.S. Highway 176.

The seller was an affiliate of Charleston-based Gramling Brothers Real Estate & Development, which is developing the 6,500-acre Cane Bay project.

Buck’s company also is developing the nearby commercial land on both sides of North Creek Drive at nearby Nexton.

“We expect to see buildout there over the next four years, and development moving north of that for the next phase,” he said, referring to the existing tract in Nexton and the newly acquired tract in Cane Bay. “That’s certainly a growing area of the tri-county region.”

Buck also paid $2 million for 2.47 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of Nexton Parkway Extension and Highway 176. He plans to build a Blue Water convenience store and gas station by the end of 2023.

Cane Bay had about 7,000 homes on the ground at the end of 2022, according to spokeswoman Kelly Gramling. The tract has been approved for more than 15,000 units.

Nexton recently announced 2,500 home sales at the 10-year mark. It’s expected to have 7,500 residential units at full buildout.

Law and office

A regional law firm is now firmly footed in a new multistory office building on the Charleston peninsula.

Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP recently moved into the sixth floor of the 12-story Morrison Yard complex on Morrison Drive near the base of the Ravenel Bridge.

Representatives of the Charlotte-based firm said the 12,000-square-foot space allowed it to align with new trends in the legal industry and position the practice for future growth.

A historic Broad Street property that’s housed banks, law firms and a publicly traded real estate company over the past 134 years or so is back under local ownership in a deal totaling $6.2 million.

An affiliate of EP Group purchased the 15,500-square-foot, three-and-a-half story building at 39 Broad St. for $5.58 million last week, according to public land records. The deal included an adjacent 16-space parking lot at 28 Elliott St., which sold for $620,000.

The seller was Healthcare Realty Trust of Tennessee.

The vacant commercial building is between East Bay and Church streets. It underwent a top-to-bottom renovation about eight years ago.

EP Group, which said it invests in middle-market, U.S. based businesses and is based on Meeting Street, plans to take part of the newly acquired property. A spokesman said the privately held company is reviewing “a range of possible plans” for the rest of the space.

“We look forward to being the stewards of this building and remaining part of the vibrant downtown community,” EP Group CEO Terry Hurley said in a written statement.

The new owner and The Post and Courier were owned by the same parent company until September 2021, when both were spun off as standalone businesses.

According to Historic Charleston Foundation, 39 Broad dates to the late 1800s — with the “marked verticality” of its arched windows among its most distinctive architectural features. The builder was Charles Otto Witte, a wealthy German-born businessman and consul for various European nations who once lived at what’s now the Ashley Hall school campus.

The structure later became known as the Exchange Bank and Trust Co. building, named for an early tenant was established in 1891. Local archives show a law firm and Merchants’ and Miners’ Bank were operating at the same address a few years earlier.

This was supposed to be the first real test of the regular season for James Island.

The AAAA Trojans had rolled through their first four games, allowing just one touchdown, heading into Friday night’s game against Class AAAAA Cane Bay.

But James Island had never beaten Cane Bay in six previous tries, including a heart-breaking 3-point loss a year ago when the Cobras kicked the game-winning field goal as time expired.

The Cobras (2-2) were coming off an open date and had two weeks to prepare for the Trojans.

But this one wasn’t even close as James Maxwell scored two touchdowns to lead fifth-ranked Trojans past Cane Bay, 28-7, on Sept. 15 before a crowd of more than 2,000 at The Backyard on the campus of James Island.

It wasn’t a perfect game or even a pretty one; the Trojans turned the ball over four times and had more than 100 yards in penalties. But James Island won the physical battle up front.

“We knew this was going to be a smashmouth football game,” said James Island coach Jamar McKoy. “We made way too many mistakes, but we found a way to step up and made some great plays when there needed to be great plays made and won a big ballgame.”

James Island’s defense smothered Cane Bay’s option offense, limiting the Cobras to less than 200 yards of total offense and one TD.

“It was a very physical football game,” said Cane Bay coach Russell Zehr. “They showed up to play that kind of game and we didn’t. At times they were much more physical than we were and that’s disappointing because we pride ourselves on being a physical team and were not tonight.”

After a short punt by the Cobras, James Island grabbed a 7-0 lead on Maxwell’s 8-yard TD run early in the second quarter.

Maxwell appeared to be caught in the Trojans’ backfield on the handoff, but brushed off the initial hit, and then ran over the next two tacklers on his way into the end zone.

The Trojans pushed their advantage to 14-0 on Maxwell’s second TD of the first half, this one coming from a yard out with 2:41 left before halftime.

The state’s winningest girls high school volleyball program, Bishop England, added to its collection of state championships in November by winning its 29th state title.

The boys team, in only its second season and in the sport’s first year sanctioned by the S.C. High School League, won the state’s first boys championship, taking the Class AAAA title.

Senior leaders on each team earned the title of All-Lowcountry player of the year. Olivia DeMarco is the girls top player, while Will Mazur was the boys’ top performer.

Mazur added volleyball to his list of activities in the summer of 2022. He has been a member of the basketball and baseball programs as well. Despite knowing very little about the sport at the start, Mazur was able to use his 6-5 height as a middle hitter/blocker.

“I mean pretty much none of us had any experience when we started last summer. It was something neat to try but as we got better, it became very serious for us,” Mazur said. “I personally knew nothing when I started. I just kept an open mind and went to work. Now, volleyball is probably my favorite sport.”

Mazur was one of several seniors on his team and the team clicked as a unit from day one. He finished this season with 141 kills and 67 blocks. but doesn’t feel he was any better than the other players on the team.

“We had a lot of guys doing big things, that’s why we won the state title,” he said. “It really is incredible to think how far we came in a short period of time. It was the most fun I’ve ever had in sports. We had other guys who play other sports also and I think volleyball became their favorite also.”

While Mazur is a relative newbie to volleyball, DeMarco is a seasoned veteran. She got her first taste of varsity action during her freshman year, but was a full-time starter for the last three seasons. There may have been players with more gaudy stats but few brought the intensity and leadership that DeMarco did for the 2023 team.

“She was our rock,” coach Cindy Baggott said. “When we needed her, we went to her and she always responded. We had some underclassmen this year, some really talented girls, but Olivia was who we turned to when we needed it. She’s kind of quiet but she was the definition of leading by example.”

DeMarco admits to some burnout and does not seem likely to pursue the sport in college. A shoulder injury in the summer of her junior year ended her club season and she fell off the recruiting radar. That’s fine with her.

“I love volleyball and I love what I was able to accomplish, but that injury sort of got me thinking about what I wanted to do,” she said. “I think it made my senior year enjoyable, not having to worry about recruiting and stuff. I just had fun and wanted to win that state championship. If I never play again, I know we won our last match.”

DeMarco posted 240 kills and 38 blocks during her senior season. Those numbers were down from her previous two seasons because of the talent around her. She had 444 kills as a junior and finished her career with 1,026 kills and 107 blocks.

“Statistics is not what made Olivia so great,” Baggott said. “She just brought leadership every day. We had some other hitters and they took some of the pressure off her. I saw her enjoying the game so much more this year.”

DeMarco says she will likely attend Clemson, South Carolina or College of Charleston and may pursue club play. But maybe not.

“We’ll see. I just know I am looking forward to being a college student,” she said.

Girls All-Lowcountry volleyball

First team

Olivia DeMarco, Bishop England, Sr.

Bridey Potter, Wando, Sr.

Miah Johnson, Oceanside Collegiate, Sr.

Maggie Elliott, Lucy Beckham, Sr.

Jaiden Rohs, Philip Simmons, Sr.

Charlotte Strickland, Ashley Hall, So.

Indigo McDaniel, Ashley Ridge, Sr.

Aliyah Birch, Northwood Academy, Sr.

Honorable Mention

Allie Abernathy, Porter-Gaud; Kendall Swan, Hanahan; Peyton Tribolet, Philip Simmons; Avery Bell, Lowcountry Leadership; Maggie Bond, Charleston Math & Science; Drew Page, Summerville; Samantha Alwardlt, Ashley Ridge; Kristina Kakalev, Bishop England; Addie Smith, Wando; Kali Young, James Island; Laniah Kitt, Woodland.

Isabel Zinore, Wando; Violet Poole, Wando; Addi Kreiger, Wando; Sullivan Leonard, Bishop England; Aubrey Noone, Bishop England; Langdon Blackstone, Bishop England; Maddie Varn, Bishop England; Emmaline Burnett, Porter-Gaud; Anne Goldstein, Ashley Hall; Jen Fermo, Ashley Hall; Harper Phillips, Porter-Gaud; Jolie Trudeau, Lucy Beckham; Molly Seifert, Lucy Beckham; Molly Morris, Lucy Beckham; Mia Wave-Nelson, Lucy Beckham.

Josie Rucker, James Island; Kellyn French, James Island; Katie Bolden, Northwood Academy; Lexi Duplessis, Oceanside Collegiate; Alaina Jarrett, Academic Magnet; Emerson Medlin, Academic Magnet; Caroline Combs, Cane Bay; Kylie Broersma, Cane Bay; Dani Gehringer, Philip Simmons; Autumn Benton, Palmetto Christian; Bria Olson, Palmetto Christian; Cokey Suddeth, Palmetto Christian.

Boys All-Lowcountry volleyball

First team

Will Mazur, Bishop England, Sr.

Andrew Puckhaber, Bishop England, Sr.

Dang Tran, Cane Bay, Sr.

Hunter Reid, Wando, Jr.

Dylan Meinders, Philip Simmons, So.

Aidan Alexander, Bishop England, Sr.

Payton Shoemaker, Cane Bay, Sr.

Greyson Ervin, Lucy Beckham, Jr.

Summerville High School is one of just two boys’ volleyball teams that can claim it had a victorious night against Cane Bay High School this fall.

When it mattered, though, the Cobras were nearly their best on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Region 6 champion Cane Bay extended its win streak to 14 matches with a 25-21, 25-18, 25-18 victory over the visiting Green Wave in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.

Region 7 champion Summerville was the last team to beat Cane Bay on Sept. 11. The Cobras were prepared for another battle against the Green Wave in the postseason. They blanked Summerville for the third time in a row since dropping the first encounter this season.

“I knew they were coming out for blood,” said Brian Lariviere, Cane Bay coach. “We had to play our best level of ball. They’re a very good team. I feel like my team plays better against good teams.”

The journey continues when No. 2-seed Cane Bay (17-2) advances to the Lower State final at Carolina Forest on Monday, Oct. 30, with a spot in the state championship on the line. Carolina Forest swept Wando in three games to advance (25-22, 25-23, 25-12).

The top-seeded Panthers are 32-4-4. The Lower State winner advances to the state championship on Thursday, Nov. 2.

Lariviere was pleased with his team’s performance and gave the Cobras an A grade. Summerville finished the season with an 11-5 mark.

“We had a few missed serves and a few miscommunications,” Lariviere said. “I would give it a 9.5 out of 10. There are always things that are going to go wrong but our character held up and we kept our intensity up. They never got a lead and we never let go.”

Cane Bay won its playoff opener two days earlier, blanking visiting Ashley Ridge 25-6, 25-12, 25-13.

This season marks the end of the road for 12 Cane Bay seniors and two Summerville seniors.

Teams from several states will come to the Lowcountry Dec. 28-30 for the 13th annual Carolina Invitational high school basketball tournament.

If one is a basketball fan, there will be ample opportunity to see some quality hoops during the tournament, and with 15 gyms hosting games, there is no need to travel far. Host sites include Ashley Ridge, Cane Bay, Cathedral Academy, Fort Dorchester, Stratford, Summerville, Bishop England, Burke, First Baptist, James Island, Oceanside Collegiate, Palmetto Christian Academy, Philip Simmons and Porter-Gaud high schools.

Over the past 12 years, the Carolina Invitational has featured teams from the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Canada and Australia. This year’s event will follow a showcase format, with all teams playing one game a day and guaranteed three games against schools with similar levels or enrollment sizes. Visit lowcountryinvitational.com for a full schedule.

The Summerville girls will host North Oconee County (Georgia) for their first game at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28. The Lady Green Wave will face Calvary Day at 4 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 and play Frederick Douglas (Lexington, Kentucky) at 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 30.

The Pinewood Prep girls will play Halls Knoxville, Tennessee) at 3:15 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Philip Simmons, Chapmanville (West Virginia) at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 29, at Stratford and Stratford at noon Saturday, Dec. 30, on the Knights’ home court.

The Pinewood Prep boys will play Oceanside Collegiate at 7 p.m. Dec. 28 at Oceanside, Chapin at 12:45 p.m. Dec. 29 at Philip Simmons and Gaffney at 3 p.m. Dec. 30 at Stratford.

The Ashley Ridge girls will host Grant County (Kentucky) for their first game at 6 p.m. Dec. 28. The Lady Swamp Foxes will play Hilton Head Christian at 3 p.m. Dec. 29 and George Washington at 3 p.m. Dec. 30.

The Ashley Ridge boys will host Grant County at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28. The Swamp Foxes will also play Walnut Hills at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and Calvary Day (North Carolina) at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 30.

The Fort Dorchester girls will host David Crockett (Tennessee) for their first game at 7 p.m. Dec. 28. The Lady Patriots will also face Carrolton at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and Wando at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 30.

The Cathedral Academy girls will host Westminster (Georgia) at 6 p.m. Dec. 28 for their first game. The Generals will also play Hanahan at 3 p.m. Dec. 29 and West Ashley at 3 p.m. Dec. 30.

The Cathedral Academy boys will host Westminster at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28 for their first game. The Generals will also face Veritas at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and Coastal Home at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 30.

The Cane Bay girls will host Howard Tech (Deleware) at 6 p.m. Dec. 28. The Lady Cobras will also play Spartanburg at 3 p.m. Dec. 29 and Greensboro Day at noon Dec. 30.

The Cane Bay boys will play Howard Tech at 7:30 p.m. for their first game. The Cobras will also face Halls at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 29 and Wren at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 30.