Greenwood County SC Government

07/31/2026

We're interrupting your regular Friday Update to bring you the latest on Monday's train derailment in Laurens County.

District 6 Councilman Robbie Templeton is joined by Deputy County Manager of Operations Rob Russian to share an update on the progress made over the past five days.

We're grateful for CSX's rapid response and pleased to report that the lower railroad trestle is now operational. CSX crews will continue removing derailed rail cars and making track repairs in Laurens County and on the trestle in the coming days.

Boaters, please remember that only one of the elevated openings of the railroad trestle is open for passage. Use extreme caution, follow all posted directions, and do not travel between the "Boats Keep Out" buoys and the trestle.

Thank you to CSX and our partners in Laurens County for their continued hard work throughout this response and recovery.

We'll be back next week with another Capital Project Sales Tax project update.

🐟 Let us know if you spot the bird diving for a fish in the background.

07/30/2026

CSX has reached another important milestone in repair efforts following Monday's train derailment in Laurens County.

Yesterday, crews completed driving the new support pilings for the lower railroad trestle over Lake Greenwood, and the railroad trestle reopened to train traffic shortly after midnight.

The turbidity curtain and containment boom remain in place as CSX completes final cleanup and repairs around the trestle.

Boaters are reminded that only one of the elevated openings of the railroad trestle remains open for passage. Please use extreme caution and follow all directions if traveling through this area. Do not pass between the buoys marked "Boats Keep Out" and the trestle.

We appreciate the continued patience and cooperation of our residents, visitors, and the boating community as this work is completed.

We want to thank CSX for its rapid response and commitment to completing these critical repairs as quickly and safely as possible. We are also grateful to our partners in Laurens County for their continued coordination and communication throughout this response.

07/29/2026

CSX continues to advance repair efforts from Monday's train derailment in Laurens County.

Today, crews remain focused on repairing the lower railroad trestle over Lake Greenwood. CSX plans to complete driving the new support pilings today. Residents and visitors in the area should continue to expect increased noise while this work is underway.

The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services has confirmed that final cleanup of the derailment site was completed as of 4:12 p.m. on July 28, 2026. This cleanup addressed the sodium borate (borax), a common ingredient in laundry detergent, that was released from one railcar during the derailment. There continues to be no evidence that any of the material entered Lake Greenwood.

Boaters are reminded that only one of the elevated openings of the railroad trestle remains open for passage. Please use extreme caution and follow all directions if traveling through this area. Please do not pass between the buoys marked "Boats Keep Out" and the trestle.

We appreciate the continued patience and cooperation from residents, visitors, and the boating community as repair efforts continue.

Reminder: The railroad tracks and railroad trestle are owned and maintained by CSX. All repairs to the railroad infrastructure are being managed by CSX. The company will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment, and we will share additional information as it becomes available.

07/29/2026

Greenwood County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Announces New Locations to Serve as Temporary Polling Locations for August Primary Election

After meetings and conversations with officials from the Greenwood County School District 50 and the Greenwood County Board of Voter Registration and Elections, the board announced, out of an abundance of caution, that it is updating the polling locations for the Tuesday, August 11, 2026, Primary Election.

The following locations will serve as polling locations and will only be used for the Special Election on Tuesday, August 11th and August 25th (run-off election, if needed).

🔹 Livi’s Knoll 003 - Genesis Education Center – No Change
🔹 Grandiflora Glen 004 - OLD LOCATION - Rice Elementary School – NEW LOCATION – Greenwood First Free Will Baptist Church, 1510 East Durst Ave., Greenwood, SC 29649
🔹 Laco 011 – OLD LOCATION - Benjamin E. Mays Elementary School – NEW LOCATION - First Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 2107 Mt. Moriah Rd., Greenwood, SC 29646
🔹 Greenwood High 018 – OLD LOCATION - Greenwood High School Performing Arts Center (GPAC) – NEW LOCATION - Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2330 Cokesbury Rd., Greenwood, SC 29649
🔹 Georgetown 019 – OLD LOCATION - G. Frank Russell Technology Center (RTC) – NEW LOCATION - Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2330 Cokesbury Rd., Greenwood, SC 29649
🔹 Emerald High 029 – OLD LOCATION - Emerald High School – NEW LOCATION - West Side Baptist Church, 215 Bypass 225 S., Greenwood, SC 29646
🔹 Pinecrest 037 – OLD LOCATION - Pinecrest Elementary School – NEW LOCATION - Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2330 Cokesbury Rd., Greenwood, SC 29649
🔹 New Castle 039 – OLD LOCATION - Northside Middle School – NEW LOCATION - New Journey Baptist Church, 330 Deadfall Rd. W., Greenwood, SC 29649
🔹 Biltmore Pines 042 – OLD LOCATION - Lakeview Elementary School – NEW LOCATION - Harris Baptist Church Annex, 303 Center St., Greenwood, SC 29649
🔹 Marshall Oaks 043 – OLD LOCATION - Mathews Elementary School – NEW LOCATION - Immanuel Lutheran Church, 501 Creswell Ave., E., Greenwood, SC 29646
🔹 Gideon’s Way 043 – OLD LOCATION - Brewer Middle School – NEW LOCATION - Piedmont Technical College, 620 Emerald Rd. N., Room 161-B, Greenwood, SC 29646
🔹 Angel Oaks Crossing 049 – OLD LOCATION - Westview Middle School – NEW LOCATION - First Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, 2107 Mt. Moriah Rd., Greenwood, SC 29646

The Greenwood County Board of Voter Registration and Elections collaborated with Greenwood School District 50 to identify alternate polling locations for precincts previously assigned to District 50 schools.

"We appreciate the partnership and cooperation of District 50 throughout this process," said Connie Moody, Director of Voter Registration & Elections, stated, “We are very humbled by the support offered from our faith-based community”. Our office is actively working to finalize plans for the affected precincts”.

Schools will continue to follow their normal daily schedules on August 11th. District officials expressed appreciation for the collaboration and communication with county election officials throughout this process.

Superintendent Shane Goodwin said, "Hosting the voting process in our schools has been a longstanding privilege for District 50, as we have always been committed to supporting civic engagement and participation within our community. Following the announcement of the Special Election on August 11th, we have stayed in constant communication with the Greenwood County Voter Registration and Elections Office to continue to explore alternate locations for polling sites. During our conversations with multiple agencies, the safety of our students and employees was always at the forefront. Our first priority is, and always will be, providing a safe and secure learning environment for our students and employees. I am very appreciative of our faith-based community for offering their facilities as polling locations and for our collaboration with the Greenwood County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Office. I also want to thank our families, staff, and community members for sharing their questions and concerns. Feedback is important to me, and we remain committed to open communication and the safety of our schools."

All registered voters are encouraged to contact the Greenwood County Board of Voter Registration and Elections Office for changes to their polling location. This information will also be readily available at scvotes.gov and communicated through local media as well as our social media channels.

07/28/2026

07/28/2026

Lake Greenwood Boaters: Please use caution when approaching the lower train trestle.

Only one of the elevated openings of the railroad trestle is open for passage. SCDNR has added buoys to help safely guide boaters through the area.

Please do not pass between the buoys and the trestle.

Pile-driving equipment is now on-site as CSX continues repair work on the damaged trestle. Please be aware of the ongoing construction activities and expect increased noise in the area.

07/28/2026

Last night, CSX made significant progress at the derailment site in Laurens County, removing all rail cars from the tracks and completing most track repairs overnight. The primary focus now shifts to repairing the damaged lower railroad trestle over Lake Greenwood.

As part of the repair process, CSX has installed a turbidity curtain (yellow boom in photos), which is a weighted barrier that extends down into the water to help contain sediment. CSX also plans to build a cofferdam to support trestle repair activities. These measures are not related to yesterday’s spill but are being implemented solely to facilitate repairs to the trestle.

Once all equipment is in place, CSX will begin driving new support piles as part of the trestle repair. We expect this work to begin today. Residents and visitors in the area should expect increased noise while this work is underway.

Boaters: Only one of the elevated openings of the railroad trestle is open for passage. Please use extreme caution and follow all directions if you must travel through this area.

In addition, a containment boom (red boom in photos) has been placed on the water as a precautionary measure. This floating barrier helps provide surface-level containment to ensure there are no residual impacts from the sodium borate (borax) , a common ingredient in laundry detergent, that was released from one railcar. There is no evidence that any material entered the water.

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as repair efforts continue.

Reminder: The railroad tracks and railroad trestle are owned and maintained by CSX. All repairs to the railroad infrastructure are being managed by CSX. The company will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the derailment. We will share that information as it becomes available.

07/27/2026

An update for our District 50 families. More information coming soon!

07/27/2026

Material from train derailment identified as sodium borate (active ingredient in laundry detergent); trestle repairs underway

Greenwood, S.C. – The white material released from one rail car during today’s train derailment, previously identified by CSX as plastic polymer, has been identified as sodium borate, an active ingredient in laundry detergent.

Sodium borate, a naturally occurring mineral compound commonly known as borax, is used in products such as detergents, cleaning agents, glass, ceramics, and other industrial applications.

Sodium borate is classified as a non-hazardous material for transportation. While elevated concentrations may affect sensitive vegetation and aquatic species, and direct contact with large amounts of material could cause skin irritation, CSX is actively removing the material through cleanup operations designed to prevent potential impacts to the surrounding environment.

At this time, we do not believe any material from the spill has reached Lake Greenwood. Greenwood County is working closely with the Department of Environmental Services (DES) to remain informed and provide updates on cleanup efforts. A DES inspector is on-site and will remain throughout the cleanup process.

CSX crews are actively conducting cleanup operations using mechanical equipment, including a skid steer and vacuum truck, to safely remove the material from the derailment area. A containment boom will also be deployed in the water as a precautionary measure to help ensure there are no residual impacts.

In addition, CSX is beginning repairs to the damaged trestle. As part of the repair work, CSX will construct a stone cofferdam tonight and plan to install a turbidity curtain to contain any material displaced during construction. These measures are not related to the spill and are being implemented solely to facilitate trestle repairs.

CSX has also updated the number of rail cars involved in the derailment. The original report of 21 derailed cars has been revised to 17 derailed rail cars.

Greenwood County will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with CSX, SCDNR, Laurens County, and other regional partners and will share additional information as needed.

07/27/2026

Lake Greenwood remains safe following Laurens County train derailment

Greenwood, S.C. – Lake Greenwood remains safe following a train derailment that occurred in Laurens County near the Greenwood County line this morning. CSX officials confirmed there has been no hazardous material release or spill and no threat of contamination to Lake Greenwood as a result of the incident.

Laurens County reported that 21 rail cars derailed near Whitten Road in Laurens County. Six of those cars were capable of transporting hazardous materials; however, CSX’s hazmat team inspected the cars and confirmed they were empty and contained no materials.

While there is no impact to the safety of Lake Greenwood’s water, residents and visitors are encouraged to use caution near the lower train trestle as cleanup operations continue. Boaters are asked to avoid this area if possible while CSX crews conduct recovery operations. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is managing boat traffic in the area to ensure the safety of the public and crews working on recovery efforts.

At this time, only one of the elevated openings beneath the lower train trestle is available for boat passage. Boaters traveling through the area should proceed with extreme caution, remain alert, and follow all directions from SCDNR officers.

The derailment occurred at approximately 5:20 a.m. in Laurens County. Laurens County first responders were dispatched to the scene, and no injuries have been reported. CSX crews continue cleanup and recovery operations.

Greenwood County will continue to monitor the situation in coordination with CSX, SCDNR, Laurens County, and other regional partners and will share additional information as it becomes available.