Cheney Brothers Expands Florence County Operations

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Cheney Brothers, a leading broadline food distributor, today announced it is expanding its Florence County operations with an additional $42.5 million investment that will create 85 new jobs.

Headquartered in Florida, Cheney Brothers processes and distributes a variety of food products across the United States, including meat and seafood, dairy, frozen food, and other dry groceries. The company also supplies food service equipment and offers kitchen and bar design services to its customers.

Cheney Brothers will expand its South Carolina distribution facility, located at 2491 Florence Harllee Blvd. in Florence, which first broke ground in 2023.

Individuals interested in joining the Cheney Brothers team should visit the company’s careers page. https://www.cheneybrothers.com/careers_new/

Date Set for Taste Of Symphony 2026

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Check your calendars for April 23rd and the annual Taste of Symphony event at Roseneath Farm on Cherokee Rd. in Florence.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of music, flavor, and celebration at Taste of the Symphony—Florence’s most anticipated spring soiree.

It’s elegant without being stuffy, this evening brings together the region’s finest chefs, craft beverages and live entertainment.

  • Exceptional food
  • Live music
  • Great company
  • A cause worth celebrating

Join in the party of the season and help support the music that enriches our entire community.

For more information, click here.

A & J Firearms Offers Free Youth Firearm Safety Classes

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MAKE IT SAFE PEE DEE YOUTH FIREARM SAFETY is something A & J Firearms has initiated in our community in response to so many very unfortunate situations that have occurred that could have been avoided.

Even if we can save just one life it is worth the time and money we spend on this class.

We, as a community, need to work together to provide proper gun safety to kids of all ages.  Our children need to understand what will happen if he/she does not apply the four basic firearm safety rules.  Education and respect for safe gun handling is the ONLY way to prevent death or serious injury.

Please consider the importance of gun safety – for you and your child/children.  You are welcome to call anytime for more information.

Click here to view the information flyer and click here to register.

McMaster Signs Joint Resolution Extending Alcohol Server Training Deadline

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Following successful advocacy by the South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA) along with pressure from area restaurants, Governor Henry McMaster has signed into law a joint resolution (H. 5261) extending the alcohol server training deadline. This extension to May 1, 2026, reflects our ongoing work at the State House to provide hospitality businesses with a manageable path toward compliance.

  • What This Means for local restaurants:
  • There is a new Deadline: All required staff must be trained by May 1, 2026.
  • Requirement: Training is mandatory for managers and any employee serving alcohol for on-premises consumption 10 hours or more per week.
  • Goal: These reforms aim to promote responsible service and mitigate rising insurance costs.

New Leadership at SC Restaurant & Lodging Association (SCRLA)

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The South Carolina Restaurant & Lodging Association (SCRLA) today announced the appointment of Mark Newman as its next President & Chief Executive Officer, following a national search to identify the leader best positioned to guide the organization and the state’s hospitality industry into its next chapter of growth.

Newman brings more than two decades of executive leadership across tourism, public media, nonprofit, and cultural organizations. He will assume leadership of SCRLA at a time when South Carolina’s hospitality industry plays an increasingly central role in the state’s economy and community life.

“South Carolina’s hospitality industry is one of the great engines of our state’s economy and culture,” said Chad Patterson, Chair of the SCRLA Board of Directors. “We are confident that Mark brings the leadership experience, collaborative spirit, and mission-driven mindset needed to guide SCRLA into its next phase. (Chad Patterson is the CEO and President of Raldex Hospitality here in Florence)

To read the full story, click here.

SCMC Recognizes Area Facilities for Outstanding Safety Achievements

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South Carolina Manufacturers and Commerce (SCMC) recently honored 92 industrial facilities across the state for their exceptional workplace safety performance at the 2026 South Carolina Safety and Environmental Summit in Spartanburg. Five of those honored were from the Pee Dee area.

Honda South Carolina Manufacturing, Duke Energy, Nucor Steel South Carolina, Nucor Vulcraft-SC and Sonoco facilities were nominated for the SCMC Safety Award based on a low rate of incidents resulting in lost workdays, job transfers, or work restrictions. To earn this recognition, plants had to achieve an incident rate below the statewide average for their North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code.

To read the full story, click here.

Convenient Childcare LLC Celebrates 3 Years

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Convenient Childcare is excited to celebrate three wonderful years of serving children and families in our community! Over the past three years, our daycare has been dedicated to providing a safe, loving, and nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and thrive.

To celebrate this special milestone, we are inviting families, friends, and community members to join us for our 3rd Anniversary Celebration and Community Support Event. This event is a chance for us to come together, celebrate our journey, and continue building a strong future for the children we serve.

Your support—whether through attendance, encouragement, or donations—means so much to us and helps us continue making a positive impact in the lives of local families.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We look forward to celebrating with you!

To view the full flyer, click here.

It’s Time To Cast Your Vote For Your Favorite Dance Contestant

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This Thursday, March 19, 2026, 12 local celebrities and their professional dance partners will square-off at SiMT for a chance to win the 14th annual Dancing For Our Future Stars dancing competition.  If you have not voted, now would be a great time to help your friends and dance favorites while supporting the School Foundation.

Even if you can’t attend the event in person, you can still be part of the excitement of Dancing for Our Future Stars of Florence! Tune in to the live stream and cheer on the dancers from wherever you are. While you watch, you can vote for your favorite dancer by giving online — every dollar supports an incredible cause and helps your dancer climb the leaderboard!

Watch live here: https://dancingforourfuturestarsofflorence.com/live-streaming

  • Adam Swindler (City of Florence) and Katelyn Rodgers
  • Devin Ruffin, EdD (HopeHealth) and Jordan Young
  • Dr. Brian Blaker (McLeod Health) and Cadence Corbett
  • Dr. Carey Brewton (MUSC Health Florence Medical Center) and Campbell Cox
  • Draper Myers (Draper G. Myers Mortuary, LLC) and Meredith Baxley
  • Jack Pawloski (King Cadillac Buick GMC) and Mallory Prozzi
  • Jermaine Eason (Honda) and Brianna Powell
  • Mitchell Lister (Florence Flamingos) and Allison Tisdale
  • Robert Gokey (Otis Elevator) and Tiffany Collins
  • Scott Olsen (GE HealthCare) and Ashlee Gillespie
  • Twana McRae (First Citizens Bank) and Eric Crowley
  • Wesley Snow (Snow & Bailey Law Firm) and Meggie Daniel

Vote now by clicking here.

You’re Invited to Priority Physical Therapy’s Open House

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We’re excited to celebrate 10 years of helping our community move better, feel stronger, and live healthier, and we would love for you to join us!

Please stop by for our 10-Year Anniversary Open House and help us celebrate this special milestone. Enjoy light refreshments, clinic tours, giveaways, and the opportunity to meet the incredible team that has been caring for our community over the past decade.

Whether you’re a longtime patient, a referral partner, or new to our clinic, this celebration is our way of saying thank you for trusting us with your care.

Come reconnect, learn more about our services, and help us kick off the next decade of movement, recovery, and wellness.

Junior Leadership Florence County Takes Part in Legislative Day

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The Florence County Junior Leadership Class spent an incredible day at the South Carolina State House this week participating in the South Carolina 4-H Youth Development Legislative Day and State Government Session.

Throughout the day, students had the opportunity to network with Mr. Jonathan Eckstrom, Director of Cabinet Affairs with Governor’s Office, and members of the South Carolina House of Representatives and Senate. Experiences like this give our youth a firsthand look at how government works and how their voices can make a difference.

The JLFC group wrapped up the day by connecting with the Florence Delegation at lunch, celebrating leadership and the impact of 4-H across the state.

A special thank you to our Florence County Delegation, the Chambers Leadership Florence Program, the Greater Florence of Chamber, Francis Marion University and the Clemson Extension Florence County/Florence County SC 4-H for making this learning opportunity possible.

If you know a rising Florence County high school sophomore or junior interested in the Junior Leadership program, applications for next year’s class are open.