Sammy Fretwell
@sfretwell83.bsky.social
Environment writer, The State newspaper, Columbia, SC
Well-known 'mountain man,' writer and storyteller dies after brief illness at his South Carolina home
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Popular ‘mountain man’ dies after a lifetime of study and education in SC’s Blue Ridge
A popular mountain man has died after a lifetime of studying and writing about nature
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November 25, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Well-known 'mountain man,' writer and storyteller dies after brief illness at his South Carolina home
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Infections rise sharply as flesh-eating microbe moves through creeks of coastal SC
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Infections rise sharply as flesh-eating microbe moves through creeks of coastal SC
Vibrio, a toxic microbe found in warm coastal waters, is on the rise in South Carolina as the earth’s climate changes.
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November 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Infections rise sharply as flesh-eating microbe moves through creeks of coastal SC
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Judge orders wealthy beach house owner to tear down seawall regulators say he built illegally near Charleston.
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SC court tells wealthy homeowner to tear out seawall at high-end beach house
SC state Administrative Law judge calls removal of Isle of Palms seawall “warranted.’’ But judge also tosses out $289,00 fine against homeowner.
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October 24, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Judge orders wealthy beach house owner to tear down seawall regulators say he built illegally near Charleston.
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Another look at the Scout motor vehicle plant's effort to offset environmental damage at its construction site in South Carolina.
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Trees fall, taxpayer costs rise under plan to offset Scout project’s damage
Trees are being cut in a national forest under a multi million dollar plan to make up for environmental damage at the Scout Motors project
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October 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Another look at the Scout motor vehicle plant's effort to offset environmental damage at its construction site in South Carolina.
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Offsetting wetlands and stream damage at massive electric vehicle plant is costing SC taxpayers a bundle
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Taxpayers spend $60 million to make up for environmental damage at Scout site
Environmental damage from the Scout electric vehicle plant near Columbia is costing South Carolina almost $60 million
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October 9, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Offsetting wetlands and stream damage at massive electric vehicle plant is costing SC taxpayers a bundle
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Environmentalists target SC city over forever chemical discharges that have polluted river where people fish. Nation's highest PFAS levels found in river, one study says.
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Nation’s highest chemical pollution in SC river sparks call for cleanup
Environmentalists demand action as Sumter’s wastewater plant contaminates the Pocotaligo River with toxic forever chemicals, threatening public health.
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August 28, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Environmentalists target SC city over forever chemical discharges that have polluted river where people fish. Nation's highest PFAS levels found in river, one study says.
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Natural gas pipeline route surfaces in South Carolina after months of secrecy. Land targeted for protection is along the route.
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Gas pipeline would cut through land targeted for conservation, map shows
A map obtained by conservationists shows that a new pipeline will cut through a natural area of swamps and rivers that have been targeted for protection in recent decades.
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August 12, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Natural gas pipeline route surfaces in South Carolina after months of secrecy. Land targeted for protection is along the route.
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Could radioactive wasps signal larger problems at SC nuclear weapons complex? More information sought.
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Radioactive wasp nests spark demand for answers at SC’s Savannah River Site
The discovery of radioactive wasp nests at SC’s Savannah River site have sparked questions. Some researchers and activists are urging the government to provide more details.
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August 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Could radioactive wasps signal larger problems at SC nuclear weapons complex? More information sought.
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Multimillion dollar land protection deal announced in South Carolina. Rare birds will benefit, conservationists say.
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Forest land near SC coast to be protected. It’s a nesting site for rare birds
A conservation group says it plans to protect 8,000 acres near Georgetown before the property is developed. Rare kites nest on the property.
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July 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Multimillion dollar land protection deal announced in South Carolina. Rare birds will benefit, conservationists say.
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Overfishing is a continuing concern along SC's coast. My colleague, John Monk, details one fisherman's troubles with the law.
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SC commerical fisherman gets prison for lying about overfishing
Evidence against commercial fisherman Don Rynn included video clips, witnesses in the commercial fishing business and experts testifying how overfishing certain species hurts everyone.
www.thestate.com
July 23, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Overfishing is a continuing concern along SC's coast. My colleague, John Monk, details one fisherman's troubles with the law.
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Officer who helped prosecutor in dog attack describes bloody scene at South Carolina nature preserve
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Cop who helped prosecutor in dog attack recounts harrowing scene at SC preserve
A Lexington police detective helped save a federal prosecutor from a vicious dog attack on a running trail at Harbison State Forest.
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July 16, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Officer who helped prosecutor in dog attack describes bloody scene at South Carolina nature preserve
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Dogs attack and injure federal prosecutor in South Carolina nature preserve. He describes them as pit bulls or pit bull mixes.
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Pit bull-type dogs attack prominent SC prosecutor out for a jog at Harbison Forest
Veteran federal prosecutor Winston Holliday has battled some of South Carolina’s most notorious criminals, but over the weekend he found himself fighting for his life against two pit bulls.
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July 14, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Dogs attack and injure federal prosecutor in South Carolina nature preserve. He describes them as pit bulls or pit bull mixes.
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Utilities accused of picking pipeline plan that will cause more disruption to the environment and private property in South Carolina.
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July 3, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Utilities accused of picking pipeline plan that will cause more disruption to the environment and private property in South Carolina.
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V.C. Summer nuclear plant gets extension of operating license as SC seeks more energy
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Nuclear plant at site of failed SC construction project to operate for decades
A nuclear plant in Fairfield County has federal approval to keep operating for decades.
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July 1, 2025 at 3:45 PM
V.C. Summer nuclear plant gets extension of operating license as SC seeks more energy
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SC river 'most contaminated' of waterways studied nationally. Forever chemicals are the problem, new study says
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SC river the ‘most contaminated’ from dangerous forever chemicals, study finds
Forever chemicals are a threat to public health. They can sicken people who regularly eat fish tainted by the chemicals or drink water with forever chemical pollution. A new study found one SC river t...
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June 26, 2025 at 5:26 PM
SC river 'most contaminated' of waterways studied nationally. Forever chemicals are the problem, new study says
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Small woodpecker spotted at nature preserve west of Columbia, years after species disappeared
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Once rare woodpecker spotted west of Columbia, decades after species disappeared
A single red-cockaded woodpecker has been found digging a nest at a Columbia area nature preserve that hasn’t documented the species in five decades
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June 19, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Small woodpecker spotted at nature preserve west of Columbia, years after species disappeared
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Carolina governors urge against oil drilling off South Atlantic coast. Environment, tourism at risk, say NC and SC governors.
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McMaster opposes offshore drilling along SC coast as feds seek more energy
Gov. Henry McMaster has come out against offshore drilling along the South Carolina coast, after opposing the last federal effort seven years ago
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June 16, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Carolina governors urge against oil drilling off South Atlantic coast. Environment, tourism at risk, say NC and SC governors.
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Scientist who studied SC train wreck, helped victims, reinstated at CDC as part of larger restoration of jobs by Trump administration.
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Trump administration reinstates ex-USC scientist who aided train wreck victims
A scientist known for helping victims of a South Carolina train wreck will get his job back at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after the Trump administration dropped plans to eliminate ...
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June 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Scientist who studied SC train wreck, helped victims, reinstated at CDC as part of larger restoration of jobs by Trump administration.
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Volvo temporarily suspended production at its sprawling SC plant. Congressman blasts Trump over tariff policies.
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Volvo temporarily suspended production at SC auto plant. Lawmaker blasts Trump
One lawmaker is blaming President Donald Trump’s tariff policies as a reason Volvo temporarily suspended production at its South Carolina plant.
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May 30, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Volvo temporarily suspended production at its sprawling SC plant. Congressman blasts Trump over tariff policies.
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Will the public be forced to pay a huge pollution fine for violations at electric vehicle plant construction site in South Carolina? Local officials say contractors should be liable.
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Will $3 million fine cost Richland taxpayers? Penalty looms for Scout project
Environmental problems that have beset the Scout Motor vehicles project produced up to $3 million in fines. But will Richland County taxpayers foot the bill?
www.thestate.com
May 15, 2025 at 5:05 AM
Will the public be forced to pay a huge pollution fine for violations at electric vehicle plant construction site in South Carolina? Local officials say contractors should be liable.
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South Carolina governor seeks federal help in effort to complete failed nuclear project
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McMaster urges Congress to help revive failed nuclear construction project in SC
South Carolina’s governor says federal help is needed to restart the failed V.C. Summer nuclear project. Utilities shut down the project eight years ago as costs mounted and ratepayers were being char...
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May 9, 2025 at 9:45 PM
South Carolina governor seeks federal help in effort to complete failed nuclear project
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Big energy bill gets Senate blessing, despite worries ratepayers could see their bills rise. Legislation close to becoming law.
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Sweeping energy bill passes SC Senate, despite concerns about rate increases
A huge new natural gas plant in Colleton County is nearing approval by the state Legislature. Gov. Henry McMaster would have to sign legislation allowing it.
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May 7, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Big energy bill gets Senate blessing, despite worries ratepayers could see their bills rise. Legislation close to becoming law.
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Affluent beach house owner confronts state officials in court over $289,000 fine they gave him for building a seawall along the beach at the Isle of Palms. New seawalls are not legal on SC beaches.
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Isle of Palms beach house owner confronts state officials over $289,000 seawall fine
A feisty beach house owner who says his rights are being infringed upon was in Columbia this week to argue against a $289,000 state fine over illegal construction of a seawall at the Isle of Palms.
www.thestate.com
May 7, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Affluent beach house owner confronts state officials in court over $289,000 fine they gave him for building a seawall along the beach at the Isle of Palms. New seawalls are not legal on SC beaches.
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