Business Briefs - July 2, 2020

Black Tie Music Academy closing

 

Black Tie Music Academy is shuttering its doors, announced co-owner Kris Manning via Facebook on Saturday, June 27.

 

“Ten years of music, art, community, joy and love. Thank you for sharing your families with us. Thank you for the opportunity to teach you and your children. We’ve seen you grow, flourish and run after your passions. You’re our family and we love you!” she posted. “We’ve always put people before profits and will passionately continue to do so. July 1, 2020, marks the closure of lessons and classes at Black Tie Music Academy. Ten years stopped hard in its tracks. We will continue to provide educational support through the fine arts in new ways in the near future — so stay tuned!”

 

Fit Culture remains virtual

 

Fit Culture notified its members last week that it will be continuing its virtual fitness and health transformation studio and closing its brick-and-mortar location on Seven Farms Drive permanently.

 

The company took its business online March 14 when stay-at-home orders forced businesses to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

According to the company announcement, “Over the last 15 weeks, we have all experienced an unprecedented number of challenges (both personal and professional) as well as incredible opportunities to learn and grow.

 

“As we look at the current environment and consider the future of in-person group fitness, we’ve come to the conclusion that it is time to grow.

 

“After much reflection, prayer and conversation with the Fit Culture Team, we made a decision. Effective July 7th, we are closing our physical location on Seven Farms Drive and becoming a fully virtual fitness and transformation studio.”

 

To learn more about the changes, go to fitculture.org.

 

Sentence issued in voyeurism case

 

A former Bishop England High School employee who worked as the school’s sports information director, who was charged with two counts of voyeurism for allegedly videotaping student athletes in a locker room in May 2019, pleaded guilty to one count of voyeurism. The second charge was dropped.

 

Jeffery Alan Scofield, 33, was arrested following an investigation by the Charleston Police Department into a report by Bishop England High School staff in reference to video images of male students changing clothes in a locker room that were discovered on an electronic device, according to a Daniel Island News report in May 2019.

 

Following Scofield’s guilty plea, he was sentenced June 9 to two years in prison, but that was suspended to 18 months of probation. Scofield won’t see any jail time, as long as he follows the terms of the sentence, including continuing registration as a sex offender and undergoing mental health
treatment.

 

Smith wins GOP runoff for House District 99

 

Mark Smith earned 985 of the 1,599 total votes cast in the Berkeley County runoff election to be  named the Republican candidate in the State House of Representatives District 99 race.

 

Smith now will face Democrat Jen Gibson in the general election on Nov. 3, 2020.

 

David Herndon, Smith’s opponent in the Republican runoff held Tuesday, June 23,
received 614 votes.

 

Of the 27,768 Berkeley County registered voters, 1,986 voted in the runoff election.

 

Rep. Nancy Mace tests positive for COVID-19

 

In a public statement the evening of June 23, State Rep. Nancy Mace reported that she had tested positive for COVID-19.

 

“Last night, I learned my campaign team was potentially exposed to coronavirus last week. Out of an abundance of caution and concern for my children and my team, I was tested for COVID-19. Today, my physician administered the Abbott Sars-Cov-2 RNA ID now nasal swab rapid test and I tested positive for COVID-19 a few minutes later,” she stated in the release.

 

Mace said she was concerned for her family and colleagues and that she and her family would be quarantined for 14 days. “I have personally contacted every individual, to the best of my knowledge, who has been in close proximity to me over the last week and may have been exposed,” she wrote. “I have asked for and paid for my staff and volunteers to get tested immediately. All of my campaign staff and volunteers have been instructed to self-quarantine and work remotely.”

 

She encouraged anyone she’d been in contact with during the previous week be tested.

 

Mace said she didn’t display overt symptoms prior to the diagnosis. “I was feeling a little fatigued with a body ache this weekend but that is kind of normal on the campaign trail. I have a slightly stuffy nose and mild body ache, but I do not have a fever or cough.”

 

Mace, the representative for State House District 99, won the Republican primary election on June 9 to face Democrat Joe Cunningham in the November general election for the U.S. Congressional seat for S.C. District 1.