The Palmetto SC Region of the American Red Cross continues to work around-the-clock to prepare for Hurricane Florence. The organization has been in close contact with its community and government partners, while mobilizing personnel and material resources from across the country. The Red Cross urges everyone to prepare now by following the tips below.

South Carolina farmers are preparing for the potential impacts Hurricane Florence will have on crops and livestock. The hurricane is expected to make landfall in North Carolina by Friday and will have tropical storm effects well across the mainland of South Carolina.
Corn harvest is underway and presents the largest concern statewide. Farmers have had several days notice ahead of the storm and are working around the clock to get their crop in as quickly as possible. As of September 4, approximately 63% of the corn statewide was harvested. South Carolina farmers planted 310,000 acres of corn in 2018, and the crop is valued at more than $187 million annually

Thursday night was supposed to be the Bulldogs' night on television. Channel 21's Thursday Night Lights telecast was to originate from McAlpine Stadium as Marlboro County High took on South Florence.
However, Hurricane Florence had other ideas. With the storm scheduled to make landfall somewhere along the North or South Carolina coast Thursday, the Bulldogs first moved the game until Wednesday. That plan was altered just now, as South Florence called MCHS head coach Dean Boyd to postpone the game.

A driver crashed into the Corner Cupboard in Wallace Wednesday. Authorities said there were no injuries to the driver or anyone in the store.
Photo by Jacqueline Hough

After four years of service, K-9 officer Sassy retired from the Bennettsville Police Department on Aug. 31.
A Belgian Malinois, Sassy was a narcotics detection and tracking dog.
Her partner and handler Sgt. Tim Hood said she was four years old when she started working for the department on Aug. 6, 2014.
Both went through 160 hours of training to be certified. She is trained for marijuana, crack cocaine, and heroin.
The $8,500 cost for her was split between the police department and the Marlboro County School District.
Two months out of training, Hood said, Sassy did several good traffic stops.