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South Carolina tourism leaders warn industry suffering from bad roads

The chorus calling for lawmakers and Gov. Nikki Haley to fix South Carolina’s roads got louder Tuesday as tourism officials warned deteriorating roads are threatening the state’s $18 billion tourism industry.

The Coastal Chambers Alliance urged the General Assembly and Haley to come up with the money and a plan to fix South Carolina’s roads.

The alliance is comprised of nine chambers of commerce along the coast, the center of South Carolina’s tourism industry. Tourism provides almost 115,000 jobs and generates $1.6 billion in tax revenue, according to the state Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism.

“From our perspective, if state government were a parent and the infrastructure system were a child, government agencies would have rushed in to put this child into foster care and labeled the parent negligent,” Brad Dean, president and CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, told The Associated Press.

The alliance said a majority of South Carolina’s 20 million tourists each year visit the coast, which is also the state’s fastest-growing area for permanent residents.

On summer weekends, U.S. 501 is snarled for miles as visitors creep along trying to enter or leave Myrtle Beach. Dean said lengthy waits in traffic jams mean less time people can enjoy their vacation.

“The bigger issue is when your first impression and last impression of South Carolina is potholes and traffic jams, invariably some visitors will end up going elsewhere,” he said.

The Department of Transportation says it will need an extra $1.5 billion a year to get all state roads in good condition by 2040.

A nonprofit group, The Road Information Program, says almost half of the state’s major roads were in poor shape last year and such roads cost the average South Carolina motorist at least $1,100 extra a year. The figure represents the cost of maintenance for vehicles from pothole and road damage, extra fuel and the cost of fatal crashes.

“The current system is placing our coast and our state at a competitive disadvantage for both economic development and tourism,” Bryan Derreberry, president and CEO of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, said in a written statement.

South Carolina’s almost 17-cents-a-gallon gas tax has been unchanged for 30 years, the alliance said, noting that neighboring North Carolina and Georgia raise more money for highways. North Carolina’s gas tax is 39 cents a gallon while Georgia gas and use taxes amount to almost 27 cents a gallon.

Haley opposes raising the gas tax. She is expected to outline her road improvement plan in the coming weeks.

Dean said raising the gas tax alone will not be enough, and the state will have to find other money.

“We have let ourselves fall so far behind that raising the gas tax is not a panacea,” he said.

He noted that Horry County, where Myrtle Beach is located, has invested $2 billion in roads over two decades, largely through a local-option sales tax, much of it paid by visitors.

The Atlanta Streetcar is good for tourists. What about regular commuters?

Commentary, Money Business, Transportation

I rode the streetcar to work for a week. Here’s what I learned.

January 20, 2015

Rebecca Burns
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There’s little doubt that the Atlanta Streetcar, which finally started service a few weeks ago, will be a good thing for the city’s tourism business. Its 2.7-mile loop connects all those Centennial Olympic Park attractions—Coke! CNN! Civil Rights! Fish! Football! Ferris wheel!—with the King Historic District, which on its own merits draws more than a million visitors each year. The trolley gives tourists and conventioneers staying in the hotels clustered around Peachtree Center an easy way to get from the hotel district to spots like the Sweet Auburn Curb Market.

The streetcar could also offer some assistance to “local tourists.” Families might take MARTA from the suburbs to Peachtree Center and hop on the streetcar to reach the aquarium, for instance. Downtown parking annoyance and expense avoided! Brookhaven or Doraville dwelling Millennials might catch the trolley to bars on Edgewood Avenue (the homeward journey for late-night revelers would still require Uber).

But what about everyday use? Is the streetcar a practical option for people who live and work within walking distance of its 12 stops? People like me for instance. My Cabbagetown loft is a few miles from Atlanta magazine’s office near Peachtree Center. It’s a brisk 35-minute walk, great on breezy spring days, wretched in winter or mid-summer. By car, the trip varies from a zippy 15 minutes to an aggravating 45, depending on traffic, convention crowds, and construction. I tried commuting by MARTA when I first moved to Cabbagetown, but it was frustrating. The walk to the King Memorial station requires a trek through a creepy tunnel (more on that shortly) and down super-busy DeKalb Avenue. Then the trip requires either a transfer at Five Points or a long walk through downtown, all adding up to at least an hour. But I crave an alternative to driving. Watching from my car as the streetcar construction went on (and on and on), the trolley route seemed like a plausible option. Here’s what I learned testing it last week.

Monday, January 12

I head out in the chilly fog. It’s a little over half a mile from my loft to the King Historic District streetcar stop, where several people wait. Says one man: “It’s fast once it shows up.” Which it does—after 10 minutes. Inside the car, I count 12 other passengers, including two men in trench coats and expensive-looking loafers and a handful of people who look like they’re riding to get off the cold streets. We reach Peachtree Center in about 10 minutes, and I walk a quarter mile to get to the Atlanta magazine office. Total trip time: 41 minutes. Tweets skimmed: about 50. Tweets posted: 4. Emails answered: 2.

Heading out at the end of the day, I realize that the best stop on the homeward route is Park Place—or twice as far from my office as Peachtree Center. No one else is at the stop and I board a nearly empty car. One of my fellow passengers works in marketing for the streetcar. “The handrails are made out of an anti-microbial material,” he tells me. Good to know. Total trip time: 50 minutes.

Tuesday, January 13

Despite efforts to improve appearance and safety, the Boulevard Tunnel remains unpleasant.

To reach my outbound stop at the corner of Jackson Street and Auburn Avenue, I have to walk through the Boulevard underpass tunnel, which unlike its counterpart at Krog Street is not so much a hipster street art destination as a latrine/dump. Despite efforts to brighten the tunnel with a mural and improve safety with lighting and security cameras, it remains dank and filthy. On the plus side, this means I walk really fast.

The streetcar shows up moments after I reach the stop. Again there are about a dozen passengers; again a mix of students, workers, and folks seemingly seeking warmth. We zip along and then . . . the trolley stops. We sit there. And sit for a few more minutes. SUVs and cars have pulled into the intersection and blocked our tracks.

I tap on the glass door and ask the driver if he can let me out so I can walk the rest of the way. No, he says.

My fellow passengers grow equally restless. “Can’t you blow your horn or something?” asks a stocky woman wearing a puffy jacket and a visor. She’s anxious about getting to work late.

There’s a break in traffic and we creep through the intersection, only to stop again. Cars are backed up in front of us; because the streetcar shares a lane with automobiles, there’s nothing we can do. The driver gets on the radio, checking to see if there’s an accident ahead. (Later, I learn via Twitter that a Georgia State student crashed into a ticket machine at the entrance to a parking deck, causing the backup.)

“Can you let us out?” asks the woman in the puffy jacket.

“No, I’m not allowed to let you out between stops. It’s not safe to let people out in the middle of the street,” the driver says.

“It’s not the middle of the street. The sidewalk is right there,” she says, pointing out the window.

A young man peers out the window at gridlock. “This is my first time riding the streetcar. It will be the last,” he says. He normally walks from his home on Edgewood Avenue to catch a MARTA train at Peachtree Center. He calls his boss to explain he’ll be late. “I thought this would be faster. I was wrong,” he says.

We crawl forward. The automated voice on the sound system informs us that we are approaching the Woodruff Park stop. As the cars glide open, a few passengers cheer and clap and almost everyone exits. The woman in the puffy jacket sprints away at remarkable speed I follow at a brisk clip and pass the Peachtree Center stop before the streetcar reaches it. Total travel time: One hour and three minutes.

It’s raining hard when I leave work, and I’m glad for the shelter of the Park Place stop, and even happier when I hear the digitized clang clang clang of the trolley. After the morning’s misadventure, the ride home is uneventful, and I’m grateful to be sitting in the warm car and not staring at wipers on my car windshield. Total trip time: 36 minutes.

Wednesday, January 14

RB_streetcarstop — Commuting by streetcar turned out to take about the same time as walking the few miles from my home to my office.

On this foggy morning, the walk to my stop is easy and the streetcar shows up soon. We zip along Auburn Avenue; blessedly there is no repeat of the previous day’s traffic snarl. As we pull into the stop at Woodruff Park, I’m confident that this trip will set a time record. Then the driver asks a young man sitting in the back row to exit. He ignores her. One of the Downtown Ambassadors comes on board. “Sir, we have to ask you to leave,” she repeats at least five times. Eventually the young man gets out of the seat, hikes up his baggy jeans, and stomps off. The Ambassador glances at two other passengers near the rear of the car. “I just got on,” a man says, and gestures toward the woman sitting across the aisle from him. “She got on after Centennial.” The Ambassador nods at him, and then at the driver, and we pull off. As I head toward the door, I ask her what happened. She says that although streetcar rides are free for now, operators are trying to reinforce the concept that there will be a fare at some point, making people exit after riding one loop of the route. “It will help them get used to having to pay for one trip,” she says. It doesn’t take much reading between the lines to determine that MARTA, attractions, and businesses want to prevent the streetcar from becoming a haven for the homeless, a mobile form of downtown’s libraries and parks. Total trip time: 38 minutes.

I work late, and that evening it’s cold, cloudy, and dark when I rush down Peachtree. When the trolley clangs in the distance, I break into a trot across Woodruff Park, arriving at my stop just as the streetcar pulls in. There are about 20 people on board, and for the first time this week, my fellow riders appear to include several clusters of tourists. “I see the Ferris wheel!” a little girl squeals. “No, that’s the big Coca-Cola sign,” explains her mom. “Oooh,” says the girl, her face pressed to the window. Total trip time: 35 minutes.

Thursday, January 15

I teach a class at UGA on Thursday afternoons, and this week I have an appointment before class, so I head straight to Athens from home, rather than driving downtown for the morning. Heading up mist-shrouded 78, I wish for the thousandth time that the plans for a “Brain Train” connecting Atlanta’s universities with Athens had not stagnated. Driving home that night in steady rain with temperatures dropping, that wish grows more fervent.

Friday, January 16

In the morning, the rain has stopped, but the parking lot and driveways of our loft complex are coated with a sheer layer of ice. Normally on a day like this, I’d either work at home a bit waiting for the ice to melt before driving in, or bundle up and walk. Today, I pull on a heavy scarf and head to the streetcar stop. Everything goes smoothly, and I get to work in 33 minutes, faster (and warmer) than walking, and free from the angst of navigating iced roads in Atlanta.

It’s much warmer when I leave work that evening, and the walk through downtown is pleasant. I reach Park Place a few minutes ahead of the streetcar and its clanging chime triggers a happy Pavlovian response. Among the 20 passengers, I spot a few tourists, along with a group that appears to be locals. They get out at my homebound stop—Edgewood and Hilliard—and head for Harold’s Chicken and Ice Bar. Total travel time: 37 minutes.

So, am I trading in my Civic for a trolley?

The result of this test is a resounding . . . maybe. Using the streetcar takes longer than driving. But on the plus side, I like being able to catch up on Twitter and email, and love not having to hunt for a spot in the parking deck. Yes, getting trapped in traffic in the streetcar was frustrating, but in my decade of commuting downtown, I’ve had plenty of vexing experiences stuck behind conventioneers, blocked by construction crews, or forced on detours thanks to parades and festivals. Sure, it might be healthiest to simply walk every day. But the combination of walking and riding the streetcar takes about the same amount of time, while providing a break from the weather and—yes, I’ll concede to iPhone addiction—a chance to catch up with communication at the start and end of the day.

Like most Atlantans who want to switch to mass transit, the question I face is not really about getting to and from work on the streetcar: I’m pretty convinced it works for me. But, just as when I commuted by MARTA when I lived in Avondale Estates, I’ll sometimes need to get around town during the day to places that aren’t easily reached by MARTA. Some meetings, reporting trips, or after-work plans will require me to bring my car to work (and pay to park) or fork over cash for cabs and Uber. That’s a frustration that can’t be pinned on the streetcar, but on Atlanta’s overall lack of transit options.

For now, I’m planning to use the streetcar as often as I can. Thanks to the few months of free service, I can do that while hanging on to my downtown parking spot without any budget implications. In March, I’ll decide whether to make the switch permanent. In the meantime, I’ll post the occasional Tweet about my experience. And if you’re riding the trolley, I’d love to hear how it’s going for you.

Tags: Atlanta Streetcar, Brain Train, Cabbagetown, Downtown

Exhibit showcases state photographer’s work

For the next few weeks, the work of North Carolina photographer Hugh Morton will be on display at the N.C. History Center in New Bern.

Morton, who died in 2006, was well known for his camera work — he not only scoured the state of North Carolina and was also published in “The State” magazine (later changed to “Our State”) but was a newsreel cameraman in the Pacific Theater during World War II. But he was also known for his work with state tourism and his work with Grandfather Mountain, near Boone, a popular tourist spot he inherited in 1952 and went on to develop, adding a mountain top visiting center in 1961.

That mountain had been in the family since 1885, when his grandfather Hugh MacRae first owned it, and Morton spent many of his childhood years there. It was at nearby Camp Yonahnoka that he took a photography course

and caught the camera bug.

His military service resulted in a Bronze Star for his photography work and a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in a 1945 explosion on the Philippines.

Back in civilian life, he was a big fan of sports and jazz.

A short biography of his life hangs in the gallery, but his real story is told through the numerous photographs, most black and white, that are on display at the center.

A few shots are from his days in the military and catch everything from the grandeur of Pacific landscapes to the minutiae of a soldier in training, running, screaming, with fixed bayonet toward the photographer at Camp Davis.

Some scenes are pure, bucolic North Carolina: a farmer, hand on his haystacks, staring off into the fields; an old woman fondly showing off a pet goose. Men drag a boat out of the surf on Carolina Beach and a man wanders determinedly across flooded ground after Hurricane Hazel, while fire pours out of a one-story home behind him.

Musical scenes are everywhere, many of them from folk performances at and around Grandfather Mountain. Other shots show his love of jazz: “Even while Morton was still a UNC student,” a card reads, “he had already photographed every major jazz performer and big band in the country.”

A large number of his photographs feature Grandfather Mountain.

“Hugh Morton’s photographs provide us with an intimate glimpse of North Carolina’s history and people,” according to Palace collections manager Richard Baker. “By seeing the state through his eyes, we are able to tap into the human experience of what it meant to be a North Carolinian in the 20th century.”

Or, in layman’s terms, this stuff is really good, and by visiting you’ll learn a lot of what Tarheelism is all about.

The gallery is free and will remain at the center through Feb. 22.

Bill Hand is a reporter for the Sun Journal.

Tagged with: Boone NC

Onslow Co. Tourism Launches iPhone App

JACKSONVILLE — Onslow Tourism has launched a new app to showcase the areas events and attractions.

The “Only in Onslow” app is available now on the iPhone, and it’s helping to promote events in Onslow County, like the Engaged Onslow Bridal Expo coming up on Feb. 21 at the American Legion Building on Broadhurst Road.

“We are trying to spread the word and get people think that Onslow County can be a destination wedding site,” said Dawn Jensen, organizer for the expo. “You can walk through that entire venue and meet everybody that you need to meet to plan your perfect day.”

Engaged Onslow is just one of nine events currently featured on the app.

“They can go on there and see more information. They can register. Our sponsors will be listed there,” said Jensen.

Onslow County Tourism Director Theresa Carter said they’re quickly adding more. She hopes to have 20 events listed by the end of the year.

“The app when you pull it up, lists all the events, and each one of them have the ability to toggle and create their own mobile app,” said Carter.

The app allows people to follow a specific event and receive notifications for things like date or time changes.

But it also highlights recreation opportunities and permanent attractions in Onslow County.

“Lejeune Gardens, the beach, all of these things are available, and we want people to know there are lots of things to do in Onslow County,” Carter said.

The app is available now on the Apple store. Carter said it will also be available in the Google Play store for Android devices by the end of the week.

South Carolina commit Pellage considering Florida; Clemson may have landed …

Offensive lineman Christian Pellage of Brooksville, Fla., made his official visit to Florida over the weekend. He remains committed to South Carolina and will make his official visit with the Gamecocks this coming weekend before finalizing his plans.

“After my official to South Carolina, I will reevaluate the two visits and make sure I’m making the best choice for myself,” Pellage said.

Pellage has been committed to USC since August. Gamecocks head coach Steve Spurrier was scheduled to have his in-home visit with Pellage on Monday night.

Meanwhile, defensive back Mark Fields Jr. wrapped up his official visit to Clemson on Sunday afternoon without committing to the Tigers. Fields said he wants to take one more visit this coming weekend to Texas before his makes his decision.

“I think I’m going to cancel my LSU visit. I don’t think I’m going to go out there, so I’m going to do this Texas one and then that’s it. I’ll probably end up making my decision as soon as I take my Texas visit.”

Fields said he enjoyed his visit and spent time with his close friend and former teammate Van Smith, who enrolled at Clemson this month. Fields was joined on the visit by his mother and siblings. While Fields didn’t announce a commitment to Clemson publicly, he may have given the Tiger staff a silent commitment. Sunday night, DB Kareem Orr of Chattanooga, Tenn., who had been on Clemson’s board, said he was called by recruiter Dan Brooks and was told the Tigers had gotten a commitment from another defensive back over the weekend and were now filled up at the position. With that news, Orr said he will not visit Mississippi State this coming weekend and either Georgia or Ohio State the final weekend. He went to Arizona State over the weekend and currently favors the Sun Devils.

Wide receiver/defensive back Denzel Johnson of AC Flora did not commit to Clemson on his official visit because of some academic concerns that were just discovered, according to Paul Strelow of TigerIllustrated. Thus, Clemson was not in a position to take a commitment from Johnson, who had indicated going into the visit one was possible. Johnson will continue with his visits. He has Georgia Southern scheduled for this coming weekend and N.C. State the following weekend.

In other recruiting news:

Georgia met last week with Shrine Bowl DL Eurndraus Bryant of Fort Dorchester. Georgia did not offer during the meetings, but Bryant said he hopes to hear something from the Bulldogs soon. He set an official visit to Georgia for Jan. 30. He is going to Georgia Southern on Friday.

Charleston Southern in-state commitments: TE Travay Hatton of Pageland Central; QB London Johnson of Marlboro County; OL Zac Evans of South Florence; DE Jacob Garibay of Hanahan; OL Stephen Haralambis of Chapin; LB Craig Johnson of Swansea; DE Gerald Turner, transfer from USC.

USC commitment DB Antoine Wilder of Atlanta took an official visit to Tennessee State. He enjoyed the visit but remains firmly committed to USC. He takes his official visit to USC this coming weekend. Wilder is expecting USC recruiters Lorenzo Ward and Grady Brown to visit him Thursday. He said Spurrier is scheduled to visit Jan. 26.

USC filled one of the openings in its 2015 recruiting class created by two defensive back decommitments by getting a commitment Thursday from safety Toure Boyd (6-1 193) of Chaffey JC, Calif. Boyd gives the Gamecocks 28 commitments in the class, including the carryovers from last year, and he’s the fifth pledge for the secondary. Boyd was offered Wednesday by USC secondary coach Brown after all of his academic work passed muster with the university. He was going to go to Boise State out of high school before a two-year detour through junior college, first at the College of the Desert and then at Chaffey. Boyd grew up in Birmingham, Ala., before moving to California at 13 and couldn’t be happier about having the chance to play in a big-time program in the SEC. “I’ve always wanted to play in an elite college system and I picture South Carolina as an elite system,” Boyd said. “It’s always been my dream to play in the SEC, so when this opportunity was brought to me, I felt it was a dream come true and a blessing. Me playing behind a coach like Steve Spurrier is just as good as playing behind a coach like Nick Saban. I’m getting this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make the most out of my athleticism and the most out of my talent. This is an objective to my ultimate goal. I picture this as a step closer to where I need to be and where I picture myself to be.” This past season, Boyd had 80 tackles, 2 interceptions and 10 passes broken up. He also blocked four kicks. He expects to play safety at USC.

USC is continuing to recruit DE Tega Wanogho Jr. of Elmore, Ala., but currently is not included in his schedule of official visits. Wanogho visited LSU over the weekend and will go to Tennessee on Friday and Auburn on Jan. 30. “We want him to take all five visits,” said Edgewood Academy assistant coach Todd Taylor, with whom Wanogho lives. “He’ll take these three, and if he decides he wants to go on the other two, that will be his choice.” Taylor added that Wanogho will not sign on National Signing Day because they will not have had enough time to sort everything out and that he might take one or two more visits. Taylor said he will accompany Wanogho on all of his visits. USC recruiter Kirk Botkin met with Wanogho Thursday. LSU, Auburn and Tennessee were also in for visits on Thursday.

USC offered OL Trey Derouen of Lilburn, Ga., Thursday. USC recruiter GA Mangus was by to see Derouen on Thursday. Also Thursday, he met with new Florida coach Jim McIlwain, along with coaches from Missouri and Louisville. Florida has not yet offered, according to his coach. Kansas State has also come in with a late offer. Derouen visited Louisville over the weekend and will visit USC on Friday and Florida on Jan. 30. He might also work in a mid-week visit to Kansas State.

OL Cory Helms of Alpharetta, Ga., who is transferring after two seasons as a starter at Wake Forest, was offered Wednesday by Mississippi State. That’s the fourth offer for Helms since he announced plans to leave the Demon Deacons. Helms visited Mississippi State over the weekend and went from there to Texas AM for a Sunday-Monday visit. Helms also has official visits set with USC for Friday and Penn State for Jan. 30. He is not sure if he will take a fifth visit. Helms said he’s in regular contact with Gamecocks offensive line coach Shawn Elliott. “We keep in touch pretty much every day. He wants me up there and he’s recruiting me pretty hard right now.” Helms said Elliott plans to visit him this week after he returns from Texas AM and before his visit to USC.

DB Rashad Fenton (6-0, 180) of Miami is scheduled to visit USC this weekend. He was at Florida over the weekend and will visit Louisville on Jan. 30. He’s also considering Auburn. He doesn’t have a favorite going into his visits. This season, Fenton had 50 tackles, five interceptions and returned six punts and kicks for touchdowns.

Florida Atlantic commitment DB Gerald Robinson Jr. (5-10, 175) of Hialeah, Fla., was offered by USC and he will visit this weekend. He is scheduled to visit FAU the following weekend. “I’m actually thinking about FAU and South Carolina, so I just want to wait and pick out of those two,” Robinson said. “No other schools are really talked to me, so that’s the final two right there.” Robinson said USC secondary coach Brown has been recruiting him since his junior year. “They had a few decommitments and he told me that they needed me to come in and play right away. He said I can play everywhere, multiple positions on their defense, and play wherever they need me. That’s what they need to bring in to their game.” Robinson said he would be ready for anything the defensive staff threw at him. “Press coverage and cover three, I’ve been playing that in high school. And man, I can adjust to that fast because that’s what I had to play all day in high school.” This season, Robinson had 30 tackles with two interceptions and three forced fumbles.

USC commitment DB Damon Arnette of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., visited Michigan over the weekend and DE commitment Quandeski Whitlow visited Louisville. Formerly committed DE Arden Key went to LSU. All three are scheduled to visit USC this coming weekend.

Arnette said he had a good visit to Michigan, but his commitment to USC remains in place.

Whitlow has been committed to the Gamecocks since June. “If I feel like something gets comfortable to me, I’ll have to balance it all out,” he said. “I won’t know until I take my visits. Florida is coming after me hard. I’ve talked to the coaches and they said they need some ‘Bama boys. I will take the visits and get more into the schools and see if it’s somewhere I can call home for the next three or four years.” Spurrier has an in-home scheduled for Thursday.

Key has decommitted from the Gamecocks twice but recently tweeted that they are still No. 1 on his list. He plans to visit USC, Miami, Georgia and Auburn before making his final decision, which he will announce on Next Class on Fox Sports South on Feb. 2. “My decision did not have anything to do with coaches or how the season went,” Key said in an appearance on the show last week. “It’s just something that it’s getting closer to signing day and I want to make sure I make the right decision.” Key said USC remains strong with him for the same reasons he originally committed to the program. “The atmosphere on game day is crazy,” he said. “I’ve built a great relationship with coach Ward and coach Adams. Not Spurrier too much, the main people. The fans there, they have a great fan base.” Key added that Florida is also in the mix with him. And he said these upcoming official visits will be very important. “I’m not sure where I want to go right now,” he said. “I’m not 100 percent nowhere.”

DB Maurice Smitherman of Adamsville, Ala., said Sunday he’s 100 percent with his commitment to Mississippi State. He canceled a visit for this weekend to Texas Tech and won’t visit USC the end of the month. Smitherman said he talked with USC recruiter Brown late in the week and told him his heart was with the Bulldogs. Brown was going to make an in home visit with Smitherman but that didn’t happen after that conversation.

Clemson secondary coach Mike Reed was in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Thursday to meet with DB Kareem Orr. Reed would love to land a commitment from Orr, but first he’s got to convince him to take an official visit. Orr hasn’t decided to do that yet. “He emphasized how much he needed me to come down there,” Orr said. “He said I can be an impact player like Mackensie Alexander.” Orr has visited Oklahoma and will visit Arizona State. This week, he’ll decide between Clemson and Mississippi State for a visit on Friday, and between Ohio State and Georgia for a visit Jan. 30. “It will come down to a family decision,” he said of deciding between the Tigers and Bulldogs. “It’s even. They’re both telling me the same stuff.” Orr said Clemson coach Dabo Swinney plans to visit him this week.

WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside of Dorman visited Stanford over the weekend and said afterwards, “I am 100 percent going to Stanford.” Arcega-Whiteside had to wait until the visit to find out for sure he was being accepted into Stanford.

LB Jonathon Sutton of Swansea made his official visit to North Carolina over the weekend. He remains firmly committed to the Tar Heels despite the changes on the defensive staff. And Swansea WR Craig Johnson committed to Charleston Southern over the weekend while on an official visit.

WR Tavin Richardson of Byrnes did not take his scheduled visit to Louisville over the weekend. He is scheduled to visit Kentucky this coming weekend. He’s also visited Nebraska and Central Florida. Richardson plans to announce his decision Jan. 30.

LB Hassan Belton of Blythewood was scheduled to visit Tennessee State over the weekend. He has also been to Towson and is scheduled to visit Missouri this coming weekend.

Shrine Bowl DL Paul McKiever (6-4, 275) of Batesburg-Leesville is looking primarily at Georgia Southern and Georgia Military JC. He is scheduled for an official visit to Georgia Southern on Jan. 30. McKiever plans to reach out to USC about going to junior college and then transferring. He feels going the junior college route may be best for him. He also has offers from Wake Forest, Appalachian State, S.C. State and Newberry. This season, McKiever had 104 tackles and four sacks.

Shrine Bowl DB Cedarius Rookard of Spartanburg committed to Troy.

PK Brady Cormier of Beaufort committed to The Citadel with a scholarship offer and backed off a plan to walk-on at USC.

DB Seth Nichols of Hillcrest, DE Wyatt Rogers of Dorman and DB Jackson Tipton of Greer committed to Union College in Kentucky, where former Newberry coach Zak Willis is the head coach.

USC Thursday offered junior WR Josh Imatorbhebhe (6-2, 202) of Suwanee, Ga. Among his other offers are Ohio State, Florida, Michigan and Michigan State.

Clemson offered junior OL Will Fries from Cranford, NJ.

N.C. State offered junior LB TJ Brunson of Richland Northeast, and USC is showing strong interest.

USC and Florida State offered 2017 WR OrTre Smith of Wando, and Clemson offered 2017 LB Justin Foster of Shelby, N.C.

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The Atlanta Streetcar is good for tourists. What about regular commuters?

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I rode the streetcar to work for a week. Here’s what I learned.

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