MORNING HEADLINES | The frigid impacts of the weekend storm named Ferm are now being linked to six deaths in South Carolina, officials say.
Among them was a reportedly homeless 59-year-old Charleston County man who is believed to have died from hypothermia, state Department of Public officials said. Meanwhile, a Charleston County Coroner’s Office official said today that the man’s official cause of death on Jan. 27 was pending an autopsy, but that his death ” was related to Winter Storm Fern.”
Officials also said four other people died in recent days from hypothermia, including an 85-year-old Laurens County man on Wednesday; a 91-year-old Laurens County woman on Friday; an 83-year-old Lexington County woman and a 96-year-old Greenwood County woman. In Oconee County, a 79-year-old man died as a result of a slip-and-fall accident involving ice leftover from the storm.
Meanwhile, Charleston is still cold, but a little warmer compared to the weekend. While it’s still cold in the mornings, temperatures are expected to be in the mid-50s later today. A light rain is expected to begin Wednesday morning and into Thursday.
Despite the warmer weather, however, home-repair experts say it is still too early to completely de-winterize homes.
“The next couple of weeks, we are going to see some sustained cold [overnight],” Limric Plumbing and Heating’s Cassi Hedges told WCBD TV. “At this point, it’s kind of a waiting game.”
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In other headlines
Johns Island recreation center aims to fill service gap. The piece of land on the 3500 block of Maybank Highway might not look like much, but soon it plans to be Johns Island’s very own recreation center. This recreation center is designed to be a big and strong civic building to represent and support the community. Plans also include a basketball court, playground and splash pad.
Charleston Co. landfill investigating high ammonia levels. During the 2025 annual monitoring event for the stormwater program, analytical monitoring detected an elevated concentration for ammonias in the Bees Ferry Landfill’s runoff.
- Charleston Water System strikes deal over sewer overflows
- Former Charleston magistrate facing sex charges claims innocence
- North Charleston launches new composting site
- Charleston Co. to unveil first draft for transportation sales tax plan
Charleston Co. launches program to honor student leaders once a month. The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and the Charleston County School District launched the Student and School Resource Officer Recognition Program that celebrates elementary student leadership and the relationships built with school resource officers.
Mount Pleasant leaders discuss police cheating investigation in executive session. Mayor Will Haynie said tests were self-administered online, not part of an organized cheating ring among Mount Pleasant officers. The town’s investigation is ongoing and town leaders expect updates at next Tuesday’s town council meeting.
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