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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com

Advance Florence County Progress Newsletter Issue 19 August 2019

New Members

Consider the Lilies, Florence

Consider the Lilies is a flower and gift shop with everything you need to brighten someone’s day. They offer arrangements and gifts for any occasion and are happy to deliver locally. Consider the Lilies is located at 184 W. Evans St. in downtown Florence. Stop by Monday – Friday from 10am – 5pm or Saturday 10am – 2pm. Contact Angela Pecca at 843-472-5202 or visit considerthelilies.co for more information.

World Travel & Cruises, Florence

World Travel and Cruises is a travel agency that has been consistently voted “Best in the Pee Dee.” Take the stress out of vacation and let them handle all of your travel needs. World Travel and Cruises is located at 137 S. McQueen St. in Florence. Hours of operation are Monday – Friday from 9am – 5pm.

Contact Tracey Clarke at travelwithtracey@yahoo.com or 843-662-7056.

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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com

Member News

QVC Cares Event Giving back to the community continues to be a big part of what QVC Florence does to support the needs of Florence County and surrounding areas. On July 18th, QVC Team Members participated in an event that that did just that. QVC Florence partnered with a group out of Chesapeake, Virginia called Roc Solid Foundation whose goal is to build hope for children who are battling cancer. QVC Team Members had the great pleasure of building a playset for Jaxon, a 5-year-old diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The 23 Team Members who participated all walked away with a sense of how important it is to give back to the community and to do it with joy.

First Bank Foundation awards $36,100 to area non-profits In June 2019, the First Bank Foundation donated a total of $36,100 in local Pee Dee communities. John Long, Executive Vice President of First Bank, said that the bank was proud to give back to the Pee Dee. “For over 19 years, the First Bank Foundation has given back to the communities we serve,” Long said. “The money we are able to donate to these charities to support their missions is a direct reflection of the increased value of our stock. Thank you to our loyal customers who have supported us over the years, which has allowed us to

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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com

give back and support these programs that make such a huge impact locally. It is truly an honor to be able to do so.” First Bank is proud to be a local community bank that gives back to the communities they serve. First Bank is headquartered in Southern Pines, NC and has $6 billion in assets with 102 branch locations in North and South Carolina. First Bank serves the South Carolina market with branches in Cheraw, Dillon, Florence and Latta. Non-profit organizations that received donations are All 4 Autism, Boys and Girls Club, Building Families In-Home Program, Cheraw Rescue Squad, Chesterfield Fire Department, Cornerstone Baptist Church, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Florence County Disabilities Foundation, Florence School District One Athletics, Friends of the Florence County Library, Girl Scout Council of the Pee Dee, Greater Florence Habitat for Humanity, Help4Kids, House of Hope, McCarn Community Ministry Food Bank, Mercy In Me Free Medical Clinic, Northeastern Technical College, Pathfinders United, Pee Dee Area Boy Scouts of America, Pee Dee Area Coalition, Pee Dee Land Trust, Relay for Life, SNAC, St. David’s Cemetery Association, Town of Cheraw Jazz Fest, United Way of Chesterfield County and Wallace Rescue Squad.

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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com

McLeod Health names new Chief Operating Officer McLeod Health announced the promotion of Donna Isgett to the role of Chief Operating Officer on August 19. She will report to President and CEO Rob Colones and have oversight of administrators at all seven hospitals in the McLeod Health system, which serves 18 counties from the Midlands of South Carolina to the Coast. Isgett will continue to support administration of McLeod Physician Associates.

Isgett replaces Ron Boring, who recently retired from McLeod. Isgett’s appointment follows a national search that attracted 100 external and internal applicants from across the country. Isgett has worked at McLeod since 1997, most recently serving as Corporate Senior Vice President of Quality and Safety, as well as McLeod Physician Associates. MUSC Health Florence kicks off Flamingo Mammories Fundraiser October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. MUSC Health Florence and Marion Medical Center in association with the Cancer Relief Fund will kick-off their annual fundraiser, Flamingo Mammories, on August 8th. The fundraiser was developed to increase awareness and education throughout the community about the importance of annual mammogram screenings, as well as clinical breast examinations. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 42,260 breast cancer deaths (41,760 women, 500 men) will occur in the U.S. during 2019. An estimated 740 of those breast cancer deaths will be females in S.C. “Flamingo Mammories,” the official name of MUSC Health Florence and Marion’s new annual breast cancer awareness fundraiser, will kick off at both facilities on Thursday, August 8th. Proceeds from the campaign will be donated to The Cancer Relief Fund. The support group’s mission through this campaign is to stress the importance of screenings, early detection and ongoing education about breast cancer. Flamingo Mammories is intended as a reminder for women to schedule their annual mammogram appointments. Tickets for “Flamingo Mammories” are now on sale for $20 each. Flamingos may be purchased in honor or memory of someone. On October 1, the flamingos will be placed on the front lawn of Florence Medical Center or Marion Medical Center. The breast cancer support group at MUSC Health Florence hopes to use this campaign to

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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com

build on its breast cancer outreach efforts by involving the entire community in a month-long project that is highly visible. To purchase a flamingo or an entire flock, please contact Toni McGiboney, Lung and Breast Nurse Navigator, at 843-674-6206 or email her at mcgibone@musc.edu. Flamingos may also be purchased from one of MUSC Health Florence’s Breast Cancer Support Group members. Hope Health leaders advocate for SC health centers Two of HopeHealth’s advocacy leaders represented S.C.’s community health centers in Washington D.C. Tiffany Straus, director of community relations, and Kimberly O. Johnson, director of legislative affairs, accompanied representatives from the S.C. Primary Health Care Association in meetings with nine S.C. delegation representatives to discuss the importance of health centers and to bring attention to the health care needs of our state.

U.S. Sen. Tim Scott meets with HopeHealth’s Tiffany Straus, left, director of communications, and Kimberly O. Johnson, right, director of legislative affairs.

Locked Inn opens new escape room Locked Inn, which has been voted “Best Place for Family Fun in the Pee Dee” for two years in a row, has opened a new escape room that is sure to capture the imaginations of guests. The room is called The House of the Yaga and is based on a fictional story of Baba Yaga, the cannibal witch. In the story, your group attempts to stop the witch from terrorizing your village and, in the process, becomes trapped in her evil lair. You must use clues to escape and defeat the witch.

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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com

The House of Yaga holds two to eaight people and is great for team building, date nights, birthday parties, church/youth groups and more. Locked Inn also offers portable escape games that can come to you. To book this room or others, call 843-621-8942 or visit lockedinnsc.com. Progress members can use promo code ‘flopro’ to receive a 10 percent discount.

Council OK’s Buc-ee’s deal

Buc-ee’s got the go-ahead from the Florence County Council on Thursday, August 15. The nine-member council voted unanimously in favor of an ordinance to authorize the execution and delivery of a fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement with Buc-EE’s and the Drs. Bruce & Lee Foundation and an ordinance declaring a property upon which the [travel center and tourist attraction] will be located. The company was previously designated Project Clean. The fee-in-lieu ordinance notes that the Buc-ee’s location represents an investment of approximately $35 million and the creation of 170 new full-time jobs in Florence County. It adds that a large amount of public infrastructure improvements, which are needed in the location just off Interstate 95’s exit 170. Exit 170 is an interchange with S.C. 327.

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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com

It is expected that the Buc-EE’s location will spur development of the interchange as it is on a marked path to Myrtle Beach. Article obtained from the Morning News and written by Matthew Christian.

FCEDP welcomes new Project Manager

Stephanie Bosch is the newest member of the Florence County Economic Development Partnership team. She was selected for the project manager position in May and has officially started as of Monday, August 19 after fulfilling the commitments of her previous role as coordinator of orientation and admission events at Francis Marion University. Stephanie graduated from Francis Marion University with a major in psychology and minor in business. She is currently pursuing an MBA through Francis Marion as well. She grew up in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and has

been living in Florence since 2012. She serves as treasurer for Young Professionals of Florence and the Pee Dee Zeta Tau Alpha Alumnae Chapter. She also enjoys reading and participating in outdoor activities. Contact Stephanie at sbosch@florenceco.org or 843-676-5067.

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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com

Upcoming Events

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PO Box 100549, Florence, SC 29502 | 843-676-8796 www.florencecoprogress.com