Family Photographer in Goose Creek, SC

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCIV) — Tonight, the City of Goose Creek is expected finalize its plans for a new 300-unit apartment complex coming to Henry Brown Boulevard, as the city’s Board of Architectural Review will make its final recommendations to the developers for adjustments.

The complex will take up 24 acres adjacent to Henry Brown Blvd. With 10 three-story buildings surrounding a central pond. The complex will include amenities such as a dog park, pedestrian walkway and a five-story garage.

However, it has been a long time coming to get to this point. The conceptual design was initially approved over a decade ago. The development is zoned under a “Pre-Existing Development” which outdates projects which were approved by the current city council and Goose Creek Mayor Greg Habib.

But with the population in goose creek growing by over 25 percent over the past decade, the main concern for residents is making sure the infrastructure is in place to fit the current state of the city.

“I feel that we're kind of at the mercy of the builder at this point, because they were approved so long ago, before the vision of what it should be for Goose Creek. So, anything that the [Board of Architectural Review] recommends or anything like that, it's kind of limited what they can do,” Goose Creek Resident Eric Bennett said.

“I really think that the city council, I think that the mayor is working with these builders and talking to them, and seeing how they can come to some middle ground and anytime that you're able to communicate, anytime that people are willing to meet in the middle, then everybody wins," Bennett continued.

Since the project was approved already the BAR can’t stop or reject the apartment complex from being built. The board of architectural review will make recommendations including lighting, signage and elevation at tonight’s meeting.

But the question for a lot of residents remains how those in charge will handle the project which was approved in a very different Goose Creek than we are seeing today.

There are already some changes in the works as the city has is nearly two years into their project to expand a portion of Henry Brown Blvd. from a two lane road to a four lane road.

The bigger concern for residents is the infrastructure around the building, with one of the key elements being storm water management. This has been a problem for the city and greater Berkeley County area for a while, especially after we saw flooding impacts from Hurricane Ian and Tropical storm Nicole hit those areas.

While some say the complex isn’t a negative for the city, residents do say they want to see the right steps made in the implementation of this new building to fit into the city’s current structure.

“The challenge that you have, though is where does the money come to get that infrastructure put in place? And the answer to that is to the growth, right? Putting these projects and the impact fees that come from these projects towards that infrastructure, the tax revenue, and everything else from the property taxes and stuff is what's going to drive the ability to improve that infrastructure,” Bennett said.

In a statement provided to us from the City of goose creek officials says in part quote:

All stormwater requirements required by the county will be in place for these or any developments.

But there was no statement on whether the city or county as a whole would plan to change any of those with the new building in place. It is important to note most of the Stormwater Management or external infrastructure management comes from Berkley County and not the city of Goose Creek.

City officials also said developers now need to have any new apartment complex approved by the current mayor and council for full approval. Something which was not in place when this complex was approved.

The city's Board of Architectural Review meeting is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m.

More money for city employees and renovations to Crowfield Golf Club -- The City of Goose Creek unanimously approved these new ordinances to keep up with compet

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WCSC) - The City of Goose Creek unanimously approved new ordinances that will provide more money for city employees and renovations to Crowfield Golf Club in an effort to keep up with competition.

People who play Crowfield Golf Club say these renovations will improve their overall experience at the course. As far as funding is concerned, the city says they are using money they already have to pay for this, and they’ll still have some left over for employee bonuses.

The City of Goose Creek approves merit one-time bonuses for both full and part-time employees. City officials say the longer someone has been employed by the city in addition to their end of year evaluation, they can be eligible for up to $1,500 in bonus pay. This money is coming from savings in the city’s 2022 budget and will total at least $315,000.

Frank Johnson, spokesperson for City of Goose Creek, says employees will also be given a cost-of-living increase of 5% across the board.

“It’s just saying thank you to our city employees,” Johnson said. “It’s a way to stay competitive in a region where there are a lot of other municipalities out there. We are the best municipality. So, we want to make sure we are attracting the best talent. It’s about attracting and retaining talent for city employees.”

The City of Goose Creek will also expand the club house at Crowfield Golf Club with adding outside covered seating area for the bar and grille and extra space to host events.

Megan Leland, who plays at Crowfield Golf Club, says the club house needs to be improved.

“It’ll be able to fit more people because right now it’s very tiny,” Leland said. “And just a little bit of people is really echoey and loud.”

John Reilly, who started playing at Crowfield in July, says it will be more beneficial for everyone that comes here.

Mike Cool is also an avid player at the club.

“This is an asset for the city of Goose Creek and these improvements will do nothing but improve the asset the city owns,” Cool said.

The renovations will be paid for using the city’s hospitality tax under the 2022 budget, and what’s leftover will come from American Rescue Plan Act funding.

Andy Motroni, another golfer, says there’s a lot of ways to spend leftover money.

“Maybe not giving it out in the first place would’ve been a good idea, but nonetheless, now that it’s here and it needs to be spent, I think it is a good a way to spend it as any,” Motroni said.

These golfers, like Braylee Wright, say the renovations will bring interested players and hopefully more members to the club.

“We can have more people who don’t play golf come up here and realize how good of a sport it is and after you can chill out in the club house and hang out,” Wright said. “So, I think it’s good.”

The merit one-time bonuses for all eligible employees will be issued on Dec. 16. As far as the club house, there is no set timeline for construction, but city officials say the plans will be put out to bid in the next several months.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

An FTC rule means customers could get their money back for the underperforming solar panels.

GOOSE CREEK, S.C. (WBTV) - Tina Willis says she’s still waiting for the promises made by her Pink Energy salesman came to fruition.

“My electric bill never went away because it never was even working,” Willis said.

Willis financed $70,000 worth of solar panels and other system add-ons from Pink Energy based on promises that they would cut her energy costs at her home in Goose Creek, SC.

“Now I’ve got a 25-year loan, nobody to service my panels, nobody to take care of the warranty issues,” Willis said.

In its bankruptcy filing, Pink Energy listed more than 30,000 customers and creditors, but Willis’ attorney Andrew Connor says few are likely to see any settlement money.

“It appears that there are no assets to the company and so the 3,000 pages worth of creditors that have been listed in that filing, at least as to Pink Energy, are out of luck,” Connor said.

Connor and Willis are focusing their efforts on the loan company, Goodleap. It isn’t the only lender that partnered with Pink Energy but it’s one of the most common.

Pink Energy customers who sent emails to Goodleap asking for help with their loans, started getting responses from the lender saying reimbursements were unlikely since Pink filed for bankruptcy.

Connor and other attorneys say lenders like Goodleap are responsible under the Federal Trade Commission Holder Rule, which Connor says could help clients like Willis recover money they’ve already paid on their loans.

“The Holder Rule allows her to sue Goodleap up to that $20,000 amount,” Connor said.

But Goodleap’s loan agreement forces consumers into private arbitration. Unlike filing a lawsuit, arbitration mostly happens in secret, making it difficult to track how many customers are filing cases, whether they’re successful, and what’s discovered in the hearings.

WBTV previously uncovered a loan application filled out with the help of Pink salesmen that mis-stated a customer’s annual income. The inflated income makes it easier to get approved for a loan an applicant might not qualify for.

I’ve got another client who makes $800 a month on disability,” Connor said.

“They had inflated his monthly income to $15,000.”

Connor says the lenders are also charging “Dealer Fees” that aren’t aways disclosed to the consumer.

Documents obtained by WBTV show Goodleap’s formula, charging Dealer Fees upwards of 20% while keeping the interest rate low and attractive to customers. Other lenders have similar formulas.

“So, what should have been a $40,000 loan maybe is now a $60,000 loan,” Connor said.

WBTV emailed Goodleap to ask about the Holder Rule, arbitration, and Dealer Fees. The company did not provide a response.

“I just can’t see paying somebody for something that doesn’t work,” Willis said.

Consumers seeking an attorney to represent them can find a member of the National Association of Consumer Advocates.

Copyright 2022 WBTV. All rights reserved.

From Petty Officer 2nd Class Molly Crawford, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

“It’s 2022 and women are still doing the ‘first’ of things?” is how Lt. Cmdr. Amber Cowan started her conversation in the Public Affairs office at Submarine Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The submarine officer stopped by for an interview between classes while completing the Submarine Command Course in Pearl Harbor. The Colorado Springs, Colo. native has two grandfathers who served in the U.S. Air Force, and she attended the University of Washington on a scholarship from the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, her head full of dreams of becoming an aviator. Her eyesight kept her grounded, but then the opportunity to be among the first women to serve aboard submarines opened up. It was everything she was looking for, and she’s never looked back.

On Nov. 12, 2022 Cowan became the executive officer (XO) of the Gold Crew of the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Kentucky (SSBN 737), making her the first woman to serve as XO of a U.S. Navy submarine.

Cowan was in the first cohort of women to serve aboard submarines. After graduating from the University of Washington in 2010, she received her first set of orders to attend Nuclear Power School in Goose Creek, South Carolina, the first of many schools required for submarine officers. The Nuclear Power School curriculum covered topics like math, physics, chemistry and nuclear reactor technology, and after completing Power School she attended Naval Prototype Training Unit and Submarine Officer Basic course. Then Cowan, along with the rest of her classmates, reported to submarines across the Navy as division officers.

Cowan’s first boat was the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Maine (SSBN 741) (Blue). Over the course of three years, which included three-and-a-half strategic deterrence patrols, she served as the Main Propulsion Assistant, Damage Control Assistant and Tactical Systems Officer.

“I started in the engine room, which is where we build our foundation,” said Cowan. “It teaches officers to trust their enlisted counterparts and also have ownership of and in a watch team.”

One of Cowan’s favorite memories from her division officer tour is from a duty day, when she found herself making rounds at night as the Engineering Duty Officer and Ship’s Duty Officer. Her ship was in dry dock at the time, and as she walked around and under the nearly 600-foot submarine she thought to herself, “I can’t believe it is my job to be in charge of this!”

Following her time with Maine (Blue), she served as the Assistant Nuclear Programs Coordinator at Naval Service Training Command in Pensacola, Fla., and then attended the Submarine Officer’s Advanced Course in Groton, Conn. in preparation to serve as a department head.

By May of 2017 Cowan was serving as the Engineering Officer aboard the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775). On Texas, she enjoyed seeing the difference in attack submarine missions compared to her previous experience aboard a ballistic missile submarine. Cowan observed that regardless of the platform, working as a team with the other Sailors on board was essential to mission success.

“A lot of submarining is communicating with others and understanding the people-to-people dynamic in a stressful environment,” Cowan explained.

After Texas, Cowan served at Commander, U.S. Submarine Forces Pacific Fleet as the Force Radiological Controls Officer. When she was selected to serve as an XO, she began the Submarine Command Course at the Naval Submarine Training Center, Pacific.

While the mantle of being the first at something may weigh heavy at times, Cowan takes it all in stride and remembers the inspiring words of one of her grandfathers, who told her, “If anybody’s going to do it, you gotta show ‘em how to do it right.”

Her passion for what she does is visible when she speaks. She talks about submarining as a verb, and fondly remembers the many ‘we really just did that’ moments she’s shared with her shipmates underway. While some may relish shore duty, she’s genuinely excited to be going back to a boat.

“I have missed being a part of a crew, and solving problems together as a team,” said Cowan.

Cowan had this to say to anyone considering the silent service:

“I, we, need smart talented people like you. If you are good with team success, the submarine force is for you as well. It’s going to challenge you in ways you won’t find anywhere else on the planet.”

As of November 2022, women Sailors are assigned to 28 operational submarine crews. Based on overall retention rates and high accession source interest, the Submarine Force plans to integrate 33 submarine crews by 2030.

GOOSE CREEK — The Goose Creek Gators ran into a buzzsaw in the second round of the Class AAAAA playoffs, and will pack it in until next season.

Carolina Forest quarterback Scott Saylor accounted for six touchdowns and the Panthers scored on their first six possessions to eliminate the Gators from the postseason for the third time in four seasons with a 55-28 victory at John Fulmer Field on Saturday night.

The Region 6-AAAAA champion Gators, who had won games four in a row, end the season with a 5-7 record. They fell behind 41-6 in the first half but kept fighting in the second half.

“It was as bad a half of football as we’ve had all year,” Goose Creek coach Jason Winstead said. “We lost a fumble, threw an interception, had the bad snap on a punt and we had multiple defensive backs get beat deep. It wasn’t just one thing. It was a lot of them all at once.”

Carolina Forest (8-4) won for the fourth straight week and rolls into the Lowcountry again Friday for a showdown with Fort Dorchester in the third round of the playoffs. The winner advances to the state semifinals the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Goose Creek dented the scoreboard first, going 68 yards to score on quarterback Drew Moore’s 5-yard pass to receiver Evan Daniels with 9:18 remaining in the first quarter.

Carolina Forest’s response was swift, though. Saylor capped a 66-yard drive on a 13-yard touchdown run to even it, 6-6, with just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter.

The Panthers missed the extra point but nothing else went wrong in the first half for the visitors.

Saylor connected with receiver Nathan Schuessler on touchdown strikes of 45 and 70 yards on the next two possessions as the Panthers opened up a 20-6 advantage with just over two minutes left in the first period.

The Panthers’ defense then forced a Gators punt and the snap got away from Moore, who was flagged for intentional grounding inside the Goose Creek 10. Three plays later on the first play of the second quarter, Saylor raced in from the 4 on third and goal to extend the lead to 27-6 with 11:51 remaining in the first half.

In the rest of the second quarter, the Panthers turned a pair of Goose Creek turnovers into points, scoring on Kalil Johnson’s 7-yard touchdown run with 4:54 remaining in the half after an interception. Moments later, Panthers running back Zion Gilbert finished a drive after a Reynardo Parks fumble recovery on a 19-yard burst with 1:58 remaining in the first half.

Carolina Forest finished with well over 300 yards in the first two quarters.

The Gators’ Moore connected with Daniels again on a 34-yard touchdown strike with 11 seconds remaining in the opening half to cut the Carolina Forest lead to 41-12.

In the second half, Saylor heaved two more touchdown passes for Carolina Forest and Moore ran for a touchdown for the Gators. Gators running back Meliq McGowan added a 1-yard score for Goose Creek.

“The kids kept playing in the second half but you can’t play the way we did in the playoffs,” Winstead said. “There are no bad teams in the second round of the playoffs. I’m proud of our seniors for what they’ve done here.

“We’ve won four region championships in a row and some of these guys have been a big part of the last few, but you can’t play the way we did tonight and expect to win.”