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S.C. lieutenant governor visits SRP Park for youth sports clinic

Originally posted on May 21, 2025 by WRDW/WAGT

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) – South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette was at SRP Park Wednesday.

Evette joined Major League Baseball and the Augusta Greenjackets for a diamond sports clinic for youth.

It’s a part of the Play Ball initiative, which encourages youth to get involved with baseball or softball-related activities.

Play Ball also gets children involved with the game as an outlet for physical activity, fun with friends and learning how to play the sport.

“As a mom myself, I think its so important, and I hear it study after study getting our kids out of the house, getting electronics out of their hands, getting them playing sports again interacting with their peers, it’s the healthiest thing we can do for our children,” said Pamela Evette, South Carolina Lieutenant Governor.

This is also a partnership with other lieutenant governors across the country.

She says they are planning to schedule another clinic for kids at SRP Park.

“When I heard about MLB wanting to partner with lieutenant governors to bring this play ball clinic to their state, I was all in because getting our kids outside, getting those cell phones, computers and Game Boys out of their hands, and put a bat and a ball and getting them running and playing. That is the secret to having healthy, well-adjusted children,” said Evette.

Comprehensive cancer treatment now an option with Augusta Oncology opening in North Augusta

By Elizabeth Hustad. Originally posted on 5/19/2025 in The Post & Courier North Augusta Star

NORTH AUGUSTA — May 12 marked the official opening of Augusta Oncology Multispecialty Clinic in North Augusta, the $30 million project capturing every facet of cancer treatment in one facility, a first for the Central Savannah River Area.

Augusta Oncology sees around 3,000 patients a day across its five area treatment centers, and health officials are estimating that North Augusta alone will serve close to 400 patients a day.

“It has been quite a venture to get here,” AO Multispecialty Chief Operating Officer Robert Hendricks said.

Though only a year between Augusta Oncology announcing its expansion into North Augusta and the start of treatments here in mid-February, the front-end work took place in Columbia, at the General Assembly, where Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette this week said the state’s lawmakers had been “really listening to the medical world saying ‘we need more outlets for treating our patients.’”

South Carolina’s repeal of the Certificate of Need — the bureaucratic red tape that had until mid-2023 bound medical providers to stringent requirements before building new hospitals or larger-scale clinics. Even expansions in medical equipment and telemedicine were subject to licensing.

“Certificate of Need was stifling so many clinics like this that could open up and do great things for every sector of our state,” Evette said.

“Our goal has always been to remove barriers to care and make the cancer journey easier for our patients and their families,” Traci Duffie, CEO of AO Multispecialty, said.

Comprehensive care

The facility, located at 150 Bluff Ave., is intended to maximize not only treatment capacity but treatment quality, John Kowal said.

Kowal, president of Siemens Healthineers for the Americas, said the clinic’s layered convenience — a 30,000-square-foot medical oncology suite above a 15,000 square-feet of radiation center — is paramount in making sure no one has to travel “miles and miles, hours and hours” to get full treatment.

Part of that treatment might come from one of two linear accelerators, ensconced in a pair of concrete vaults and picked out as top-of-the line technology, a qualifier affirmed by a radiation therapist of 26 years.

“This is state of the art. You won’t get this anywhere in this area, and especially not this combination,” Linda Jainniney said, gesturing to one of the “Linacs.”

Augusta Oncology is able to re-plan patient treatments in real time, while the patient is on the treatment table, she said. No delay, no need to “re-simulate,” she said, if the tumor shrinks more rapidly than expected or if the patient loses weight unexpectedly.

“The whole goal here is to have the highest quality imaging to make sure that you very clearly can see the target where it is today and to be able to carve around it, make sure that we end up ablating that tumor and minimizing the impact, in a non-invasive environment,” Siemens’ Kowal summarized.

Radiation treatments might go on every day for six weeks. That can translate into a patient having to make some hard decisions during an already stressful time — the tugs between personal needs and health needs, Jainniney said.

But in North Augusta, “They can get the care that they need while they’re right here with their family and not have to make that choice,” she said. “Traveling is a huge thing, especially when prognoses can be very different, so you have to weigh — you know, do I want to spend that time away from my family? They don’t have to make that choice.”

Nancy Kitchens attested to the level of care she received from Augusta Oncology after being diagnosed with breast cancer during the buildout of the North Augusta facility.

Now in radiation, the treatment offered by those Linacs has been pain-free, she said, a little awed still — she admitted that she hadn’t quite believed the doctors when they said it would be.

“This place has your back in the biggest way; they want to save your life,” she said.

From an underutilized building to one of life-saving work, North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams said the massive transformation of the former Medac building, half-vacant for years and seeing only the 50 or so employees each day, into Augusta Oncology and its revolving doors of patients and doctors was needed density for economic activity and a needed link between the city’s downtown and its once-again developing Riverside Village.

Not on the list for why Augusta Oncology came here, Williams laughed, but still, “that’s a serendipity for us.”

One-on-one with Lieutenant Governor Evette

Published May 19, 2025 by Fox Carolina

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Evette sits down with Fox Carolina’s Justin Dougherty to discuss important issues happening in our state and a possible run for governor.

WATCH NOW

DRC Ventures Partners with ELYSIAN to Celebrate 10 Years of Women Inspiring Women at Star-Studded Celebration

Originally published by EIN Presswire on May 13, 2025

SPARTANBURG, SC, UNITED STATES, May 13, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — DRC Ventures, in collaboration with ELYSIAN, co-hosted a powerful celebration this past weekend to honor ELYSIAN’s 10th anniversary. Held at the private estate of ELYSIAN Founder, Publisher, and Filmmaker Karen Floyd, the exclusive retreat welcomed more than 200 influential women from around the globe for a day of connection, inspiration, and impact.

At the heart of the celebration was Dr. Christina Rahm, Founder and CEO of DRC Ventures, who played a pivotal role in the event’s success. Through her leadership and vision, she helped shape several cornerstone initiatives, including one of the day’s most compelling highlights — a deeply moving conversation with Atifete Jahjaga, the first female President of Kosovo.

The event brought together an extraordinary group of thought leaders, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers aligned with ELYSIAN and DRC Ventures’ shared mission: to empower women and drive meaningful global progress. Distinguished attendees included:

President of Kosovo Jahjaga
Anita Zucker, Philanthropist and former CEO, The InterTech Group
Edna Morris, Chairman of the Board, Tractor Supply Company
Dr. Alveda King, Chair, AFPI Center for the American Dream
Itai Madamombe, Founder and CEO, OCEANIX
Prominent political leaders from across South Carolina and beyond

As a key strategic partner in ELYSIAN’s evolution, Dr. Rahm has been instrumental in launching the Aspiring Women initiative, a bold new program dedicated to mentoring and supporting women under 35 on their path to leadership.

“It is an honor to lead the Aspiring Women of ELYSIAN. We have so much to accomplish for the world and for one another,” said Dr. Rahm. “I stand alongside powerful women like Karen Floyd to pursue peace, purpose, and progress. The next 10 years hold extraordinary promise, and together, we will shape a future defined by unity, innovation, and unstoppable strength.”

The centerpiece of the day was Dr. Rahm’s intimate and thought-provoking interview with President Jahjaga, who shared powerful insights on women’s leadership, post-conflict resilience, and the global importance of investing in women.

“Investing in women is investing in the future of individuals, families, communities, and entire nations,” said President Jahjaga. “When women rise together, they don’t just break barriers, they build a better future.”

The retreat also featured a series of expert-led panels on topics including business, global politics, STEM, and creative industries. Dr. Rahm shared her insights across multiple sessions, further amplifying the day’s mission of empowerment and innovation.

A key moment of the celebration included the recognition of over 70 exceptional women with awards across diverse fields, a testament to ELYSIAN and DRC Ventures’ commitment to elevating female excellence.

Guests left inspired, including Martha Wiedemann, Associate Director of the iconic Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland:

“I felt I was in the presence of greatness,” said Wiedemann. “This event energized me to reflect on how I, too, can contribute to this remarkable journey.”

South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette also praised the collaboration:

“As a woman in leadership, it is truly inspiring to witness the impact of this partnership and the powerful network it is building for women who are transforming every sector,” said Evette.

The day concluded with a celebratory toast, marking not just a decade of ELYSIAN’s impact, but the enduring partnership between DRC Ventures and ELYSIAN, a union committed to nurturing leadership, fostering community, and driving global change.

“This gathering reflects the powerful synergy between DRC Ventures and ELYSIAN,” said Karen Floyd. “Dr. Rahm’s visionary leadership has expanded our global reach and deepened our mission. Together, we are amplifying the voices of women who are mentoring, leading, and creating a legacy of transformation.”

DRC Ventures’ collaboration with ELYSIAN underscores its broader commitment to empowering women through philanthropy and innovation. Through ELYSIAN Impact and related initiatives, the organizations have helped distribute more than $16 million in support of causes advancing women, children, animals, environmental sustainability, and service.

To learn more about DRC Ventures, visit www.drc-ventures.com
For more about ELYSIAN, visit https://readelysian.com

SC Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette visits North Augusta to unveil new clinic

by Rakish Lenon. Originally published by WJBF News Channel 6 on 5/12/2025

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. (WJBF) – South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette visited North Augusta on Monday for the grand opening of the newest Augusta Oncology Multispecialty Clinic location.

The clinic, located on 150 Bluff Avenue, North Augusta, S.C., will provide both chemotherapy and radiation services on site.

“As people look where they want to call home, they want to look for things like quality of life, they want to look for things like good medical care, they want to look for services and that’s what you have here,” said Lt. Gov. Evette. “So this will definitely put this area on the map, people coming here to make sure if they’re gonna ground roots, this is where they want to be.”

“We can give chemotherapy and radiation therapy in one facility,” said Traci Duffie, CEO of Augusta Oncology Multispecialty Clinic. “We can do diagnostic imaging, we have CT scanners, we have pet CT scanners, so we can take care of the whole person going through this journey.”

The clinic is part of the Beacon Bluff Development Project to help transform downtown North Augusta.

$19M early childhood education center being constructed in Spartanburg County

By Chris Lavender. Originally posted by The Post & Courier Spartanburg on May 8, 2025

DUNCAN — A $19 million early childhood education facility will soon take shape, providing additional resources in a rapidly growing section of Spartanburg County.

On schedule to open in August 2026, the 44,500-square-foot Middle Tyger Education Center at 101 S. Danzler Road will sit across from Duncan Elementary School.

The project is possible through a partnership involving SEW Eurodrive, Spartanburg County School District 5, Spartanburg Academic Movement, Middle Tyger Community Center and the S.C. General Assembly.

The school district donated 13 acres for the new center.

Lt. Gov. Pam Evette stopped on May 7 at SEW Eurodrive in Wellford to speak on the new center and efforts statewide to boost early childhood education.

“There’s also a lot of work gone into providing school choice, and education remains a top priority in South Carolina,” Evette said. “The new center for early childhood education being developed for this community at large will be a template and model, and I am hoping to talk about it all over the state with other businesses.”

The new center will have 17 classrooms and serve up to 260 children ages 6 weeks through 4K. The new center will create 25 jobs.

Middle Tyger Community Center Executive Director Haley Grau told The Post and Courier the new center will help expand the district’s current model.

“We want to make sure that we can keep serving children and provide high-quality child care,” Grau said. “This is going to be incredible for our workforce. We just want to make sure people can work and have child care.”

The average cost for child care annually in the area is about $14,000 annually or $300 per week. The new center is expected to alleviate the financial strain of child care on families in the region.

SEW Eurodrive is among the project’s supporters. The company is a global private industry that manufactures gearboxes.

“SEW Eurodrive is proud to invest in the future of this community by supporting the Middle Tyger Education Center,” said Rainer Blickle, vice president of SEW Eurodrive USA. “We believe strongly in the mission of MTCC and in the power of early education to uplift families. This project will have a lasting impact not only for our employees’ families, but for the broader economic and social health of the region.”

Former state Rep. Rita Allison, who attended a media conference at SEW Eurodrive, spoke about the new center’s innovative partnership.

“The center is going to be an economic development tool,” Allison said. “There are so many places in our state that need this model with the school district, Middle Tyger Community Center and businesses coming together with all their talents.”

The site at the corner of East Main Street and South Danzler has been cleared of trees for the new center, and construction should start in late 2025.

Grau said children with disabilities and living in poverty are prioritized in the center’s child care program enrollment process. The two-story facility will also include space for future expansion and playgrounds.

Spartanburg Academic Movement has committed $500,000 for the project. Grau said the General Assembly earmarked $3.5 million for the project.

World’s largest rubber duck makes splash in Myrtle Beach

By Haleigh West. Originally posted by ABC 15 News WPDE on May 8, 2025

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WPDE) — You’re one lucky duck if you’re in Myrtle Beach this weekend, because you have the chance to see the world’s largest rubber duck!

Measuring in at 60 feet tall, known as “Mama Duck,” this is her first visit to South Carolina. Although the YMCA of Coastal Carolina said she was created right outside of Hilton Head.

She waddles around the country, making quite the splash to promote National Water Safety Month.

After Thursday morning’s hour-long inflation, Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune and South Carolina Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette said we can help prevent drowning, especially when the weather warms up.

“And we’re sitting on the beautiful beaches, the Intracoastal, and a city pool, or our own pool, everybody together, keep your eyes up, put your phones down. Because it takes all of us to keep our children and our friends safe,” said Lt. Gov Pamela Evette.

If you are walking through the Burroughs and Chapin pavilion, you’ll see signs with water safety tips and a QR code for resources. Mama Duck will inflate every morning between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., and you can visit on Thursday, Friday and Saturday until 8 p.m. and until 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Gov. Henry McMaster, Lt. Gov Pamela Evette speak at Myrtle Beach Classic

by Julia Richardson, originally published May 7, 2025 by WMBF

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) – Although the first official day of the Myrtle Beach Classic featured a pro-am with a lot of favorite celebrities, some familiar faces in South Carolina politics also stopped by the Dunes Club.

Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette spoke to the media Wednesday afternoon, joined by other local and state leaders.

McMaster emphasized the importance of the classic putting Myrtle Beach, and South Carolina as a whole, on the map, not just economically, but in image as well.

“To have these magnificent golfers from all over the world who go anywhere is a great thing because we all learn something from it,” said McMaster.

Evette touched on the rise in sports tourism in South Carolina and how the Classic has helped contribute to it.

“Whether you’re down in Hilton Head or you’re here in Myrtle Beach and you see the beautiful greens, and you see the wonderful ocean, you see the light house at Harbortown, and it just makes you want to come here, so it’s got an amazing economic impact for our state,” said Evette.

SC governor visits Grand Strand ahead of 2025 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic

by Joe Wedra, originally posted May 7, 2025 by My Horry News

State officials and government leaders, including S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette praised the 2025 ONEflight Myrtle Beach Classic and its impact at a press conference at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club on Wednesday, May 7.

McMaster and Evette were joined by others, like Sen. Luke Rankin and Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune, as a part of an official event to kick off the tournament.

Evette said the event is a major boost to the state, helping attract even more fans to the area through the media exposure the tournament brings.

“The first thing they want to do is sit down, get in front of their computer, book a room and come here to play golf, right here in South Carolina and right here in Myrtle Beach,” Evette said. “This is our second year of this tournament, and it’s a very exciting time.”

McMaster praised the Myrtle Beach area as being a welcoming place to host a PGA Tour event. A key talking point amongst tournament leaders for the past several months has been the “overdue” nature of the PGA Tour coming to Myrtle Beach.

“That’s 60 miles of unbroken white sand,” McMaster said, gesturing to the oceanfront view beyond the Dunes Club ballroom. “They call it the Grand Strand. You can’t find it anywhere else… all kinds of things have attracted people here for years and years. It’s always the people and it’s always the place.”

Evette said the event is a major boost to the state, helping attract even more fans to the area through the media exposure the tournament brings.

“The first thing they want to do is sit down, get in front of their computer, book a room and come here to play golf, right here in South Carolina and right here in Myrtle Beach,” Evette said. “This is our second year of this tournament, and it’s a very exciting time.”

McMaster praised the Myrtle Beach area as being a welcoming place to host a PGA Tour event. A key talking point amongst tournament leaders for the past several months has been the “overdue” nature of the PGA Tour coming to Myrtle Beach.

“That’s 60 miles of unbroken white sand,” McMaster said, gesturing to the oceanfront view beyond the Dunes Club ballroom. “They call it the Grand Strand. You can’t find it anywhere else… all kinds of things have attracted people here for years and years. It’s always the people and it’s always the place.”

Rajput said celebrities like Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell enjoyed playing in the Wednesday pro-am event, and have already indicated that they would like to be apart of the event in 2026.

Tracy Conner, interim president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, said at Wednesday’s press conference that the current contract with the PGA Tour is through 2027 and that conversations will begin this fall about “extensions and other opportunities.”

Evette said the Classic, and the game of golf as a whole, continues to have a significant positive economic impact for the state. All leaders at Wednesday’s press conference seemed to indicate that the event has a very realistic chance of sticking in the area for years to come.

“I think it is unlimited, the amount of economic impact it has and the draw that it has, bringing people to South Carolina,” Evette said of the tournament’s benefits.

Tournament play begins on Thursday at the Dunes Club and will continue throughout the weekend with the final round taking place on Sunday.

$19 million childcare campus coming to Spartanburg County

by Sacarlett Lisjak, originally posted May 7, 2025 by WSPA

SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) — Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette was in Spartanburg County on Wednesday, highlighting a new education development coming to the Duncan area.

Evette toured global manufacturing company SEW Eurodrive’s facility, but she also came to talk about an investment made by the company.

“What we really wanted to talk about first and foremost is on top of their exceptional product, quality and workmanship is what they are doing for this community and using their philanthropy dollars to come together to help early childhood development,” Evette said.

SEW is helping to fund a new early education campus for local family resource facility, known as Middle Tyger Education Center.

“They are taking their treasures and making a center for early childhood development that isn’t just for their employees but for the community at large,” Evette said.

The goal is to address the shortage of early childhood education resources in the area.

“We know that childcare comes at the center of a healthy thriving family, and we are in the midst of a childcare desert. There is not enough high-quality early care in education to meet our industry and residential demands,” said Haley Grau, th executive director of Middle Tyger Community Center.

The center, once completed, will span more than 44,000-square-feet; sitting on approximately 13-acres of land donated by Spartanburg School District 5.

State and local officials said the development will go a long way to alleviate the demand for early childcare in the area.

“We can expand our early care in education program, that is daily childcare, from 60 slots to 285 slots, not just 5 classrooms but 17 classrooms,” Grau said.

Middle Tyger Community Center said the new building will offer the most infant to one-year old slots in the state.

The project is estimated to cost $19 million and is expected to open in August 2026.