Rooster whiplash + Living with gators
Happy Friday! It’s Chase Karacostas.
I have a headache. A month ago, the University of South Carolina’s mascot was named Sir Big Spur. Then he didn’t have a name because of some drama. Then, on Monday, the school said he had been named “The General” — rather than the fan-favorite name of “Cock Commander.” Then, on Thursday, the school said it had resolved the drama and had secured the rights to still call the rooster Sir Big Spur.
It seems like all of that is now resolved. Maybe?
Anyway, in news that does make sense to me, The Island Packet’s Sarah Haselhorst wrote about how South Carolina has a state amphibian! She said “it’s a bit weird,” but I think we can all agree that spotted salamanders are kind of adorable.
Moving on. Here’s what else happened this week.
1. Labor Day weekend in South Carolina
Labor Day weekend is finally here, and while it marks the “official” end to summer for some, I’m here to remind you that September and October are glorious months along South Carolina’s coastline. It’s not as hot, but the water is still plenty warm. And there are fewer crowds!
Many of you are probably figuring out the final details of your holiday weekends, so I’ve gathered up some details on what you need to know.
Columbia will get a long-weekend, like everyone else, just maybe not a dry one. Forecasters predict a rainy weekend starting today (Friday) and lasting through Monday, The State’s Patrick McCreless reports.
Blessed be: Gas prices are dropping. The average across South Carolina is just $3.45 a gallon, The Herald’s Cailyn Derickson reports.
The Sun News’ Maya Brown put together a guide on the changes visitors can expect in Myrtle Beach this fall, from when paid parking at the beach ends to when dogs are allowed on the beach during the day.
Have a lovely weekend, and don’t forget to wear sunscreen! Nobody wants to go back to work or school looking like a tomato.
2. Abuse at Rockstar Cheer
This week, The State’s Lyn Riddle reported details in the growing case of accusations that dozens of children were abused over 20 years by the owner a South Carolina cheerleading gym.
The accusations were levied in two different lawsuits against a Rockstar Cheer gym franchise in Greenville and are largely against the owner of that gym, Scott Foster, who died last week. Both boys and girls were abused by Foster, the lawsuits claim. At least one person was raped, court documents say. Children were frequently plied with drugs and alcohol when being abused, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuits claim that not only were the gym and Foster culpable, but so were his wife, the U.S. All Star Federation, the broader Rockstar Cheer company and several other companies and nonprofits.
There is an ongoing federal law enforcement investigation into the accusations despite Foster’s death. Lawyers involved in the case said Foster was aware of the investigation when he died by suicide.
Attorney Jessica Fickling of the Strom firm, said Foster had “unbridled power” and took advantage of children. “This stops right now,” she said. “It’s now our job to take care of these individuals.”
The accusations led to Rockstar Cheer affiliates in Charleston, Columbia and five states outside of South Carolina to remove Rockstar Cheer from their names and branding.
3. Living among predators: How do we coexist with alligators?
Two weeks ago, an 88-year-old woman named Nancy Becker was killed in an alligator attack. Becker’s death was the sixth fatal alligator attack since 2018, and has prompted a question The Island Packet is now trying to answer.
How do we learn to live with alligators, a protected species that can easily kill any one of us?
The Island Packet’s Sarah Haselhorst and Sarah Claire McDonald tried to parse out that question of how humans can live with these dangerous predators. Give it a read.
On my mind
The controversial but popular celebrity chef Paula Deen is visiting her namesake restaurant in Myrtle Beach Saturday, Sept. 10 for a book signing. I wrote about how to get tickets.
Monkeypox: I reported how state health officials are using a new vaccination method that could increase the number of available vaccine doses from 3,400 to nearly 18,000.
A South Carolina magistrate judge was publicly reprimanded by the state Supreme Court for a “heated exchange” where he told a lawyer to “get the f------ ear wax out of his ears,” The State’s John Monk reports.
Watch out on the road: Car accidents involving deer spiked in South Carolina last year, The State’s Patrick McCreless reports. Having had a few close encounters myself back home in Texas, I made a map of deer-related collisions in Horry County after I moved here.
That’s all for today. If you don’t already, subscribe to The State here. If you’re already a subscriber (thanks!), download our iOS or Android app to get connected.
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