Porch Construction in Hanahan, SC

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — Thousands of dead fish were found floating in Turkey Creek and washing ashore in Hanahan, prompting an investigation by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources into what caused the mass die-off.

Residents reported seeing tens of thousands of menhaden, a small fish common to the area, floating in the creek Monday. Many of the fish became caught around docks and along the shoreline, creating a strong odor that residents said could be detected from nearby homes.

Robert Roe said he had never seen anything like it.

READ MORE | "Dead fish wash ashore on Folly Beach."

“Tens of thousands of menhaden” were floating across the creek, Roe said. He said fish continued coming out of the creek for hours as the tide fell.

“We called DNR because we've never seen anything like this,” Roe said.

Two children who saw the fish said they initially appeared to be small white spots on the water until they got closer. They also described a strong smell of dead fish throughout the area.

DNR officials took water samples and are investigating the cause of the fish kill. The agency had not provided an update as of Tuesday evening.

Extreme heat and low dissolved oxygen levels are among the possible causes, officials explained.

Fish kills can occur when warm water contains too little oxygen to support aquatic life. Warm water generally holds less dissolved oxygen than cooler water, and oxygen levels can fall further overnight.

READ MORE | "Hundreds of dead fish wash up from Mt. Pleasant pond."

During daylight hours, algae and aquatic plants produce oxygen through photosynthesis. At night, that process stops while plants and other organisms continue consuming oxygen through respiration. The combination can cause dissolved oxygen levels to fall and place additional stress on fish, an expert said.

Roe said he hopes the weather is responsible rather than contamination.

“That's something I think we could all live with rather than something that's chemical-related,” he said.

By Tuesday evening, higher tides had carried away many of the dead fish, though clusters remained around neighborhood docks and portions of the shoreline.

HANAHAN — A forthcoming town center that's set to break ground soon has announced its initial list of tenants. It includes a pizzeria, an Italian-inspired market and wine bar, and the second location of a popular downtown coffee shop.

Blackwells Corner, whose name is a nod to a community hardware store that operated on the site for more than 75 years and shuttered in 2025, is a mixed-use real estate project in Hanahan. It will blend a walkable mix of dining, retail, fitness studios, salons and office space across roughly 40,000 square feet.

The owners of the long-envisioned town center, which Mayor Christie Rainwater called “transformational” in returning a vital corner of the city on Yeamans Hall Road near Remount Road, have landed its first four occupants.

A new wood-fired concept dubbed Untitled Pizza Co., a yet-to-be-named mercato and wine bar led by Cane Pazzo owner Mark Bolchoz, and Kudu Coffee & Wine, which has gained a dedicated following downtown at 4 Vanderhorst St., will eventually serve food and drinks at Blackwells Corner. Women's clothing shop Pineapple House Boutique also will join the development when it makes its anticipated debut in fall 2027.

"Every business here shares what we're trying to build," Blackwells Corner partner Michael Sivel said in a press release. "We weren't looking to simply fill space. We wanted operators who will give Hanahan the kind of local options residents have told us they want. This lineup reflects exactly that."

The news comes less than two weeks after Bolchoz announced plans to bring an Irish-influenced bar and restaurant to the former Dashi space on Remount Road, about one mile from Blackwells Corner's future 1279 Yeamans Hall Road address. His forthcoming third dining concept will further entrench the chef, who opened his debut restaurant at 1276 Yeamans Hall Road in June 2025, in the area between North Charleston and Goose Creek.

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — The South Carolina State Ethics Commission has ruled that Hanahan Mayor Christie Rainwater violated multiple state ethics laws through her participation in the 2022 sale of property on Yeamans Hall Road.

The transaction became the focus of an ethics complaint filed in September 2025 by developer C. Ray Wrenn. The complaint alleged Rainwater improperly participated in a real estate transaction involving Carolina One Real Estate, where she worked as a Realtor, and failed to recuse herself despite the firm's financial interest in the deal.

The complaint centered on a closing document that was revised shortly before the Yeamans Hall Road transaction was completed. The amendment added Carolina One as a broker in the deal, resulting in the brokerage receiving a portion of a commission totaling $25,500. Investigators alleged Rainwater took part in efforts to ensure the commission was paid to Carolina One after joining the firm.

The ethics complaint also raised questions about a separate 2021 Williams Lane property sale in which Carolina One received approximately $49,500 in commissions, although the Yeamans Hall Road transaction became the central focus of the case against Rainwater.

During a June 18 evidentiary hearing in Columbia, Rainwater acknowledged that she helped correct closing documents after discovering Carolina One's commission had been omitted. However, she maintained throughout the proceedings that her actions were intended to protect the city from potential legal issues rather than benefit herself financially.

READ MORE | Hanahan Mayor Christie Rainwater defends role in 2022 land sale before ethics panel

In its final ruling, the Ethics Commission found that Rainwater violated two provisions of state ethics law: participating in a matter involving a business in which she held an economic interest and failing to recuse herself once a potential conflict of interest became apparent.

Rainwater was fined a total of $2,100 for her violations and given 6 months to pay the fine in full. She was given 10 days to appeal, but in an official statement, the Mayor said she has no plans to do so.

Rainwater's official statement can be found below:

I respect the State Ethics Commission and appreciate the time and attention it devoted to reviewing this matter. The Commission’s ruling makes clear that I did not receive any personal financial benefit from the transaction, did not negotiate or arrange the City’s brokerage agreement, and was not found to have acted with the intent to enrich myself.

I believed at the time that I was acting in the City’s best interest by ensuring the closing documents accurately reflected the existing agreement prior to my licensure. At the same time, I recognize that I have made a mistake and should have recused myself from the matter. I regret that I did not do so.

I remain committed to serving the people of Hanahan with integrity and transparency. I look forward to moving ahead with the City’s business and continuing to serve our community.

While I have considered an appeal, the city had a very loud minority bringing divisiveness, and I don’t feel like dragging this out would be helpful at this time

See the full Decision by the State Ethics Commission here

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – Most people dream about spending time on a luxury yacht. For Hanahan native Cooper Dawson, that dream turned into a career — and now a role on Bravo’s hit reality series Below Deck Mediterranean.

Season 11 follows the crew of a luxury superyacht as they navigate demanding charter guests, long workdays, and life at sea. Dawson is one of the deckhands featured on the season, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep the vessel running.

Growing up in the Lowcountry helped spark his love for life on the water, a passion he says eventually led him into the yachting industry.

Dawson said his opportunity to join the show came through a social media platform.

“I actually found the posting on Facebook, which is where you find a lot of yacht jobs,” he said. “Somebody sent it to me said, ‘You’ve got to apply for this.’ I applied, went through a bunch of interviews just like any other boat, and found myself out in Dubrovnik.”

As a deckhand, Dawson’s responsibilities include helping maintain the superyacht and ensuring charters run smoothly for guests. Unlike most yacht crews, however, his work is captured by cameras around the clock.

“When you finally walk off the set, you’re breaking that microphone off your neck, and it’s just a sigh of relief,” said Dawson. “You’re not supposed to act like the cameras are there, but it’s a little bit difficult to do. I was so nervous. But you kind of get used to it, and they become just a fly on the wall.”

Behind the luxury charters are long hours, high expectations, and a crew that has to earn its place every day.

“When people watch my season, I want them to take that respect goes a long way,” said Dawson. “I had no knowledge going into this industry or even the show … I used that pressure to mold me. I think my respect and my ability to learn is what propelled me throughout the season. If anything, keep a good attitude, and it’ll get you far.”

Although Season 11 is still airing, Dawson is already looking ahead. He plans to head to Florida and continue working in the yachting industry.

No matter where his next job takes him, Dawson says, he’ll always carry his Lowcountry roots with him.

You can catch a front-row seat to his experience working aboard a superyacht Monday at 8 p.m. on Bravo.