Despite the COVID-19 Outbreak, Darlington continues to stand strong with businesses adapting to the ever-changing executive orders from the State. Congregations continue to find ways to spread the gospel with drive-in church at the Old Post Office, 201 Pearl Street, weekly at 10 a.m. Sundays, and online services through several churches. First responders, nurses, doctors, and other essential workers continue to maintain our 21st century life. Teachers continue to keep up with students electronically, and school staff provide food through drive-up stations across the county. Thank you to everyone who is working through this challenging time all while juggling family, school, and more!

Please stay safe, stay home, and stay well.

Central Baptist Church has launched its new mobile-friendly website, cbcdarlington.com, with a fresh look. You will find Pastor Tim's messages on the Resources tab, and a Giving tab that allows you to tithe online. If you have questions or concerns, please email us at cbcdarlingtonsc@gmail.com.

DARLINGTON COUNTY UNDER BURN BAN. Low humidity and mild winds can be an extremely dangerous combination. The South Carolina Forestry Commission currently shows our area to have a fire danger rating of moderate. This means some fires may be expected. Expect moderate flame length and rate of spread. Burning at this time can be very dangerous and could lead to property damage, increased injuries, and even fatalities.

 

Today

Darlington County Council will meet at 6 p.m. today, but the meeting room will be restricted access to council and required staff only, public and press/media access to the live meeting will be provided by a live video stream. The public and the press may view the Council meeting via live stream at https://www.facebook.com/Darlington-County-Council-Live-Meetings-111386227170116/.  

You may also access the live steam when the Council meeting begins by going to the County's website at www.darcosc.com, scroll down to Feature, and click the link under County Council Meetings Live Stream. The video of the Council meeting will be archived on the county's website at http://www.darcosc.com/government/county_council/index/index.php. You may also access the archived videos on the county's website at www.darcosc.com, click the Government tab, then County Council, and scroll to the Council Meeting Video tab on the left of the page. 

Citizen comments and public hearing comments are accepted in writing via email to the Clerk to Council at jbishop@darcosc.net or mailed to the County Administrator's Office, 1 Public Square, Room 210, Darlington, SC 29532. Written comments must be received by noon on Monday, April 6.  

Public Hearing comments regarding Ordinance No. 19-14 and/or Ordinance No. 19-15 will also be accepted at the meeting via telephone at 843-398-4469 beginning at 5:50 p.m. and lasting until the Public Hearing is closed. The public hearing for Ordinance No. 19-14 and/or Ordinance 19-15 will begin at 6 p.m. Only comments for public hearing on these two ordinances will be accepted by phone beginning at 5:50 p.m., all other public comments must be submitted as described above to be read in presentation to council at the meeting.

 

Tuesday

Darlington City Council will hold a special meeting at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, at City Hall, 400 Pearl St., Darlington, to approve the use of electronic meetings followed at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, by the regular monthly meeting. Find meeting packet information here. LIVE STREAM OF DARLINGTON CITY COUNCIL BEGINS AT 6:15 P.M. CLICK HERE

 

Thursday

Fahrenheit 225 will have Isolation Trivia Night on Thursdays with four rounds 30-minute rounds beginning at 6 p.m. Each round will consist of 6 questions worth one point each. Each question will be asked as a separate Facebook post. Submit your answer as a reply. The point will go to the first correct answer. Please reply only once with your answer, and do not add any additional replies to that particular post. Any edited answers will not be scored. Each round's winner will be given a $5 credit at the restaurant. Pick up to-go orders at 26 Public Square, Darlington. Call in take-out orders at (843) 944-0321.

 

Saturday

Family Mission Center and Dominion Church plan to offer hope to your family during this difficult time. So, while the Egg Drop had to be cancelled, we still have thousands and thousands of candy-filled plastic Easter, eggs and we need to get them to the little ones in our communities. We will be giving bags of 50 eggs per child up to the age of 13 during a Curbside Easter Egg Pick Up from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11, at Dominion Church, 1030 Pearl St., Darlington. Please practice social distancing throughout the event, remain in your vehicles, follow the traffic pattern, and items will be placed in the trunk of the car or back of the truck. The restrooms will not be open. Please note children do NOT have to be present to receive the eggs. For more information, call Tammy at 843-307-8876.

 

Sunday

 

BUSINESS OPERATIONS & CAPACITY

Click here for a list of what businesses are operating and at what capacity. Please send information to darlingtonplanner@gmail.com or text 843-992-1561 to update a listing. We will continue to update this link, www.buildupdarlington.org/covid19, as we get information.

 

CANCELLATIONS & RESCHEDULING

While City Offices will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17, through the end of the month, individuals are encouraged to do all business by phone or email during this event. City staff will be available by phone and email, and essential services will not be interrupted. You can find updates here. All City offices are restricted to essential personnel only.

 

SCHOOL NEWS

Trinity-Byrnes Collegiate School announced a temporary closure for the school and transition to distance learning beginning Monday. The school will remain closed throughout the end of the month of March. All events and after school activities are postponed for the month of March and will be rescheduled. Distance learning means Trinity-Byrnes students will not be missing class.

The Darlington County School District released its eLearning and remote learning plan to continue instruction while district schools are closed. Through the DCSD program, students will be able to keep learning, even when face-to-face options are unavailable. The district also announced how parents can pick up devices still at school, as well as introduced teacher office hours and the new technology helpline. MORE INFO ->

The Darlington County School District (DCSD) will provide nutritional, breakfast and lunch meals at more than 30 locations during school closures for the coronavirus situation.

Any child who is 18 years old or younger can get drive-thru, "grab-and-go" meal bags at more than 30 locations, Monday and Wednesday from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. The meals will be served beginning Tuesday, March 17. The child or children must be present at the time of pick up. The meal bags will contain breakfast, lunch and a snack, so only one trip needs to be made each day.

The following schools will be open for drive-thru pick up:

• Darlington Middle School
• Darlington High School
• Hartsville Middle School
• Hartsville High School
• Lamar High School
• Mayo High School for Math, Science and Technology
• West Hartsville Elementary School

Additionally, the following locations will be open for drive-thru pick up (look for school buses):

Darlington Area

• Bowens Manor Apartments
• Oakwood/Pepper Drive - Pull Off Area
• Merita Bread on Highway 52
• New Providence Baptist Church
• New Vision Outreach Center
• 1608 Elissa Drive - Softball Field
• Doveville Park - Old Fire Department
• 1005 McIver Road - Across from Fibers Industries

Hartsville Area

• East Park Apartments
• South Park Apartments
• Swift Creek Apartments
• Centerville AME Church
• Antioch Baptist Church
• Lydia Trailer Park
• Forrest Ridge Apartments
• Leesburg/Carolina Avenue - Pull Off Area
• Stoney Brook Trailer Park
• Bethlehem United Methodist Church
• Sister Sister Grocery Store
• Kay Branch Baptist Church

Lamar Area

• Cambridge Apartments
• Shiloh UMC
• St. John's UMC
• Lake Swamp Baptist Church

Again, these locations will serve "grab-and-go" meal bags from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Mondayand Wednesday during the school closures. This plan is subject to change due to service needs. For more information, contact the DCSD Office of Food Services 843-398-2315.

GENERAL COVID-19 INFORMATION

For general information about COVID-19, the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control are trusted sources of information. We encourage you to visit their websites for the most current and correct information.

• https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
• https://www.scdhec.gov/health/infectious-diseases/viruses/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19

DHEC Careline 855-472-3432: Get answers to common questions about the Corona Virus from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. If you are sick, MUSC Health offers a Virtual Visit to determine if you should leave home to seek medical attention if you think you may have been exposed to the Corona Virus. Use promo code "COVID19" at this link.

CITY SERVICES

While City Offices will be closed beginning Tuesday, March 17, through Friday, April 17, individuals are encouraged to do all business by phone or email during this event. City staff will be available by phone and email, and essential services will not be interrupted. You can find updates here.

You may call the following numbers with service-related issues

• Emergencies, call 911
• Business Licenses - 843-398-4000 ext. 101
• Permits - 843-398-4029
• Water/Sewer, Normal Business Hours,  - 843-398-4040
• Water/Sewer, After 5 p.m.,  -  843-758-1127
• Fire, Non-emergency - 843-398-4013
• Police, Non-emergency - 843-398-4026
• Municipal Court - 843-398-4004
• Streets & Sanitation - 843-398-4035
• Media Inquiries - 843-992-1561

You may still pay your utility bill or traffic citation online here. City staff will disinfect public areas more frequently and have hand sanitizer available in public buildings. Garbage and yard debris collection will remain on regular schedule.

 

Download the DDRA Membership Application here. Download a Map Location Form for your business here. Return to info@buildupdarlington.org or DDRA, P.O. Pox 57, Darlington, SC 29540.

To have your event listed on our websites, please email info@buildupdarlington.org or call 843-398-4000 x 103 by the week prior to your event.