The Dillon Herald

09/04/2026

Collaboration is the key to success. So thankful for this group. We are meeting, planning and taking action for your safety Dillon County!

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

Discover Palmetto Salt Outfitters

Born on the border in the heart of the Carolinas, Palmetto Salt Outfitters is a new destination for coastal lifestyle apparel, outdoor essentials, field-ready gear, hats, footwear, accessories, and Southern style with an edge.

Located at the world-famous South of the Border at Exit 1, The Salt brings together brands made for the way people around here live—Simply Southern, Ariat, Southern Shirt Co. (SSCO), and Knockaround—along with gear for the coast, the marsh, the road, and the next adventure.

We’re now having our soft opening Thursday through Sunday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!

Follow the official Palmetto Salt Outfitters page for new merchandise, store updates, special announcements, and your chance to win your choice of any hat we offer.

Follow us here:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591439145865

After you follow, watch for the giveaway post. Like it, comment your hometown, and share it for your chance to win.
The winner will be announced every Tuesday at 10:00 AM.

Palmetto Salt Outfitters

Born on the Border. Built for the Salt.

09/03/2026

We’d like to introduce another one of our awesome crew members!

Austin Lambert, EMT-B

Austin spent 4 years in the Marines as an Aircraft Firefighter immediately after high school and has been in EMS and civilian Firefighting for the last 4 years.

Austin is currently in class to become an Advanced EMT so that he can better serve the citizens of Dillon County!

Austin plays slow pitch softball in his free time and spends time with his dog, Shiner.

We’re so glad to have dedicated people like Austin here at Dillon County EMS!

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

South Carolina recognizes September as Kinship Care Month

Sept. 2, 2026 – Governor Henry McMaster has declared September as Kinship Care Month in South Carolina, recognizing the critical role kinship caregivers play in providing safe and stable homes for children in need.

Kinship caregivers include grandparents, aunts, uncles, relatives or close family friends who step in when a child cannot safely remain with their parents or primary caregivers.

The South Carolina Department of Social Services (DSS) recognizes Kinship Care Month each September, celebrating those who provide care, stability and support to children and youth who might otherwise enter foster care.

According to the latest Kids Count data, 7 percent of children in South Carolina live in a household with a relative and no parent present. Agency data also shows that nearly 29 percent of children in South Carolina foster care are placed with approved kinship caregivers.

“Kinship care reflects one of the greatest strengths of our communities: people stepping forward to care for children and support families during challenging times,” said Tony Catone, DSS State Director. “Across South Carolina, we have grandparents, relatives, neighbors, family friends, and other trusted adults who are providing children with loving homes, stability, and a sense of connection to their home and their community. Kinship Care Month gives us an opportunity to thank these caregivers and to stand beside them with the support and resources they need in this vital ministry to families.”

DSS offers several programs and resources to support kinship caregivers, including the Subsidized Legal Guardianship Program (KinGAP), which provides monthly financial assistance to licensed caregivers raising youth exiting foster care until adulthood.

The agency also supports kinship caregivers through the Kinship Navigator Program, which provides comprehensive help to families involved with DSS. South Carolina’s three Kinship Navigator programs include Middle Tyger Community Center, Epworth Children’s Home and HALOS.

Caregivers can also visit Kinship SC, which offers statewide links, information, resources and services for kinship families.

Several events are planned throughout September in recognition of Kinship Care Month. On September 11, DSS will celebrate Grandparents Day and encourage people to wear the color gold. Gold represents the value of these caregivers and recognizes that many are in their “golden years” when they take on these responsibilities.

Kinship Care Month provides an opportunity to recognize the grandparents, relatives, family friends and other trusted adults who step forward to care for children and help keep families connected to their communities.

09/03/2026

09/03/2026

GRAND OPENING: WEST MAIN CAR WASH TO OFFER FREE WASHES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

West Main Car Wash will celebrate its grand opening on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with a day of special offers, refreshments and door prizes.

The grand opening will take place from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The first 10 Senior citizens ages 60 and older will receive a free car wash.

Discounted car washes will also be available for customers under the age of 60. In addition to the special car wash offers, door prizes will be given away and refreshments will be available.

Everyone is invited to come out and support the grand opening celebration. Anyone wishing to donate bottled water or Gatorade for the event may drop off donations at West Main Car Wash between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
For more information call 843-632-1439.

09/02/2026

Rural Policeman George A. Davis
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
End of Watch: September 2, 1918

George A. Davis was born in Marion County on September 16, 1869, to Randall and Rachel Margaret Lucas Davis. George grew up with his older half-brother and half-sister, along with his seven younger brothers and sisters. They grew up on the family plantation and George farmed most of his life. In 1895, George married Lula Viola Shaw and together they had two daughters, Juanita and Rita, and three sons, George King, Joe Bruce and Robert.

George was appointed as a Rural Policeman for Marion County in around 1911.

On May 8, 1915, Rural Policeman George Davis was with Sheriff John M. Dozier when they were shot at by Rufus Smith when they tried to arrest him for burglary. Later, Smith shot and killed Special Deputy Ewell Cook when he tried to arrest Smith.

On the night of September 20, 1918, Rural Policeman Davis and Marion County Sheriff John Rowell, along with Davis’s youngest brother, Jesse went to the home of John Page. Rural Policeman Davis had a warrant charging Page with illegally trapping hogs. Page’s home was deep in the Big P*e Dee River Swamp and when the officers arrived, Sheriff Rowell went to the front door, while Rural Policeman Davis went to the back. Page saw the officers approaching and barricaded himself in the house. When he saw Rural Policeman Davis looking around the corner of the house, Page fired his shotgun out the back window. The shotgun blast struck Rural Policeman Davis in the forehead, killing him instantly. Sheriff Rowell and Jesse Davis withdrew from the more heavily armed and barricaded Page, to summon help.

Later that night, during his escape Page went to the home of Hattaway Avant. Upon arriving at the Avant residence, Page shot and killed Hattaway Avant. Avant’s daughter ran, but Page chased her down and assaulted her in the field.
All day Tuesday, the sheriff’s posse followed trail after trail with bloodhounds but were unable to locate Page. On Wednesday, the posse crossed the river into Florence County and located Page in a house. The posse surrounded the house, and page was ordered to surrender. Florence County Sheriff Burch was called to the scene. When Page refused to surrender, an exchange of gunfire took place. After the shooting stopped, Sheriff Burch entered the house and found the body of Page’s wife on the floor downstairs and Page's body upstairs in the loft. Both appeared to have been shot in the head with birdshot. Since the posse members had all been armed with Wi******er rifles, it was determined that Page had shot his wife and then himself.

Rural Policeman George A. Davis was buried in the Wahee Cemetery in Marion County. He was survived by his wife and two children.

Rural Policeman George A. Davis was inducted into the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame in 2015, never to be forgotten.

09/02/2026

Do you know what you’re getting when you dial 911?

In EMS, we find that a lot of people are unaware of the capabilities of today’s ambulance service, the levels of care, and the equipment we carry.

Today, we’re going to talk about the differences in levels of care.

EMS personnel are certified to three different roles.

EMT-Basic: providing the foundation of emergency care. Trained in assessment of patients, CPR, basic airway management, bleeding control, treatment for shock, and basic emergency care while transporting patients. EMT-Basics are the solid basis of a service.

Advanced EMT: the middle man who provides all the same skills of an EMT basic with included IV/IO skills to gain access when providing medications and fluids depending on the state protocols.

Paramedics: the highest level of pre-hospital care training. Paramedics are able to provide all medications that the ambulance carries including cardiac medications, pain management, and sedation when your airway needs to be maintained. They are capable of intubation, cardiac monitoring including interpreting 12 lead ECGs, and resuscitative care. In Dillon County, your paramedics are capable of drawing cultures for sepsis, administering antibiotics prior to arrival at the hospital, providing blood products in emergencies that require it, and RSI which stands for Rapid Sequence Intubation (intubation in which you’re sedated to control your airway when you cannot).

You might find that the Fire Department or Rescue Squad responds as well for assistance. Some of the members are trained to various levels as well ranging from Emergency Medical Responder to Paramedic. We have a diverse group of volunteers in Dillon County.

A lot of people wonder why EMS sits on scenes so long, we get that question a lot.

Knowing what your EMS service is capable of is an important answer to that question. This is only a small part of the incredible stuff your local providers are trained on. Stay tuned for more in depth information in the future!

*All information provided is for public education. Each service provides its only level of care based on local and state protocols as well as medical direction*