Warehouse in Hanahan, SC

HANAHAN, SC (WCIV) — Hanahan residents looking for answers about the future of flooding are getting new insight from University of South Carolina researchers, who say the risk of extreme flooding in the area is growing and the need for change is urgent.

Flooding has been a long-term issue for the city, Mayor Rainwater said, dating back to Hanahan’s earliest days as a municipality.

“It’s a big issue in the city of Hanahan since inception in 1973,” Rainwater said. “If you look at the very first minutes of the city of Hanahan, you’ll see flooding as an issue.”

Researchers have identified Hanahan as being at risk for compound flooding, meaning there are multiple ways the area can flood.

One major pain point is Goose Creek, which can overflow during king tides or heavy rainfall. USC professor Jasim Imran said conditions are worsening.

READ MORE | Charleston leaders look to expand flood protection after success of Lower Battery project

“It’s becoming worse and worse because probably sea level is higher, and now we get more intense storms,” Imran said.

Four USC researchers have spent the past two years studying the region, placing sensors from the Turkey Creek watershed to Hanahan to track water movement. USC engineering professor Austin Downey said the team is building models and data infrastructure to keep the work current.

“Right now, the project is where we are building up the models and building up the data infrastructure so hopefully we can update this as we go,” Downey said.

Over the next three years, the researchers are expected to work alongside the city to determine which areas need the most improvements. Downey said the work could also help provide real-time information.

“Can work traffic and give real-time updates,” he said.

City leaders said they welcome the collaboration as they look for solutions for residents.

“This is an issue we’ve dealt with, and we’re going to continue to work on to help residents with their properties,” Rainwater said.

During a presentation, USC experts said even small changes, such as removing a fence or widening a ditch, can make a significant difference as floodwaters move through an area.

HANAHAN, S.C. – The NC State women's golf team opens its 27th season this week at the 22nd annual Cougar Classic. The 54-hole tournament will take place from Monday, Sept. 7 to Tuesday, Sept. 8 at Yeamans Hall Club in Hanahan, South Carolina.

This marks the 20th year the NC State women's golf team will play at this tournament, which is a staple in the program's schedule. The 18 teams will play two rounds for 36 holes on Monday before concluding the tournament with 18 on Tuesday.

Monday will begin with an 8:50 a.m. shotgun start. NC State is paired with host College of Charleston and LSU. Yeamans Hall is a par 71, 6,269-yard course.

NC State's five-person lineup features two newcomers and three returners, including freshman Bonnie Lo and transfer Violeta Fernandez-Tagle. Marie Eline Madsen, Ellie Hildreth and Lindsay McGrath each competed in all 11 tournaments in 2025-26 and will return to the season-opening lineup at Yeamans Hall.

The Wolfpack finished No. 41 in the 2025-26 final Scoreboard Powered by Clippd Rankings. Based on last year's rankings, the Cougar Classic features six top 25 squads. Boston College, Clemson and Miami are the other ACC schools.

Live results from the tournament will be covered HERE.

NC State Lineup (2025-26 Final Scoreboard Ranking) 1. Bonnie Lo 2. No. 26 Marie Eline Madsen 3. Ellie Hildreth 4. Violeta Fernandez-Tagle 5. Lindsay McGrath

Competing Teams (2025-26 Final Scoreboard Ranking) 1. No. 5 Arkansas 2. No. 26 Baylor 3. No. 60 Boston College 4. No. 86 Charlotte 5. No. 45 Clemson 6. No. 55 College of Charleston 7. No. 4 Florida 8. No. 72 Furman 9. No. 57 Georgia 10. No. 33 LSU 11. No. 70 Miami 12. No. 41 NC State 13. No. 23 Ole Miss 14. No. 81 Rutgers 15. No. 21 Tennessee 16. No. 20 UCF 17. No. 15 Vanderbilt 18. No. 94 Wisconsin

8:50 a.m. Shotgun Start – Hole Locations Hole 1C – Bonnie Lo Hole 1B – Marie Eline Madsen Hole 1A – Ellie Hildreth Hole 2 – Violeta Fernandez-Tagle Hole 3B – Lindsay McGrath

Upcoming NC State will next compete at the Pirate Collegiate Classic at the Greenville Country Club from Monday, Sept. 14 to Tuesday, Sept. 15.

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) — The South Carolina State Ethics Commission has officially found the Hanahan mayor in violation of two ethics codes tied to a 2022 land sale on Yeamans Hall Road.

The commission found Mayor Christie Rainwater violated ethics codes by participating in a matter in which a business she was associated with held an economic interest and for failing to recuse herself from that same matter.

Rainwater works for Carolina One, the real estate company that helped sell the property. State ethics codes prohibit public officials from using their office to financially benefit anyone with whom they are associated.

The commission determined Rainwater did not personally enrich herself from the transaction. She was publicly reprimanded and fined $2,100.

The commission issued its final Decision and Order following an evidentiary hearing held on June 18, 2026. The City of Hanahan said it is sharing the public documentation in full.

Rainwater issued a statement in response to the ruling.

“I respect the State Ethics Commission and appreciate the time and attention it devoted to reviewing this matter,” Rainwater said. “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,” she said. “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.”

PRIOR COVERAGE: Hanahan real estate deals raise ethical questions

Rainwater said she will not appeal the ruling.

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

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCSC) — A new walkable town center is coming to the heart of Hanahan, built on the site of a hardware store that anchored the community for nearly eight decades.

Blackwell’s Corner will bring together a curated mix of local restaurants, retail shops, and office spaces, with developers intentionally excluding national chains.

Groundbreaking is scheduled for September 2026, with a projected grand opening in fall 2027.

The project takes its name directly from Blackwell’s Hardware Store, which operated on the corner from 1947 until it closed in 2025.

The development team asked the Blackwell family for permission to carry on the name.

“Our partners and I, early on, in dealing with the Blackwell family, really felt that the history that they’ve established on this corner, starting back in 1947, should continue,” Michael Sivel, a project partner, said. “And so, we asked the family if they wouldn’t mind us continuing to use the Blackwell name and that’s how we came up with the name for the town center.”

The master plan for the development was shaped by a town center study and resident surveys commissioned by the city of Hanahan, which also changed local zoning to town center-specific for the area.

“The roadmap for what should go in the town center here at Blackwell’s was spelled out by the community,” Sivel said.

Developers say the decision to exclude national franchises was intentional from the start.

“We didn’t want to bring in major franchises or any national franchises,” Jennifer Rinella, another project partner, said. “We wanted to bring in local businesses and make sure that we curate a mix that complements one another.”

Businesses already committed to the development include:

Project partners say the goal is to give Hanahan residents a dedicated gathering space they have not previously had within city limits.

“Hanahan has had a long-standing, tight-knit community. They’ve just never had a center to kind of walk to and dine,” Rinella said. “A lot of people go downtown, as we know, for dining. So, we wanted to create something here where people can walk from home and come right in to where we have a central lawn. They can eat. They can hang out with their kids. They can grab a coffee, meet friends for dinner. Those things they haven’t been able to do as much in Hanahan. They’ve always had to go out of Hanahan for it. So, we’d like to bring it to Hanahan.”

The development will include a central lawn, restaurant and retail space, and office suites.

A limited-time preview called Blackwell’s Outpost will open this September on Yeamans Hall Road, near the main site, featuring Untitled Pizza Co. and rotating pop-ups ahead of the full opening.

Leasing opportunities for local restaurants, retail and office spaces remain available.

Interested businesses can visit blackwellscornersc.com or reach out through the project’s Instagram page.