Sudden closure of Conway daycare leaves parents reeling, scrambling
Lovell Weekday Ministry, part of First Baptist Conway Grace Church — is closing down on May 30.
'You're looking on the websites, trying to find out who has a good grade with DHEC and DSS. You're asking other parents, 'where does your kid go,'' said parent Merritt Bury. 'Most of the parents you know, they already go where you're going. Unfortunately, now you're competing with them at other daycares.'
Another parent who wanted to remain anonymous said Pastor Brian Hoffman sent a letter out Monday announcing the daycare's end — which could come before May 30 based on staffing.
'The increasing legal and financial liabilities involved in operating a childcare facility' led to the decision, Hoffman's letter said.
Days earlier, parents said Hoffman apologized, saying two Lovell employees were investigated by state regulators for 'inappropriately handling and disciplining children,' they told News13.
News13 reached out to Hoffman, the church's office and Lovell's director, who all declined to comment.
'If the church is looking to grow, I do understand how that might hinder them. While selfishly us, as parents, this is hurting us,' Bury said.
The anonymous parent told News13 that Debra Stauffer, the daycare's director, didn't want it to close, and its staff found out the same time as parents.
'I just hope all the teachers are able to find other resources for employment, and that all of our babies are able to find people to watch them,' Bury said.
Hoffman told parents a town hall-style meeting is planned after services on Sunday for families to ask questions.
* * *
Skylar Musick is a multimedia journalist at News13. Skylar is originally from Long Island, New York. She joined the News13 team in June 2024 after graduating from Villanova University in May 2024. Follow Skylar on X, formerly Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, and read more of her work here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Fact Check: Don't believe video showing cross catching fire during Mass at Dallas church
Claim: A video authentically shows a cross catching on fire during a Mass service at St. Michael's Church in Dallas on June 15, 2025. Rating: A rumor that circulated online in August 2025 claimed a video showed a cross catching on fire during a Mass service at St. Michael's Church in Dallas, Texas. The clip's narrator said the incident occurred weeks earlier, on June 15. For example, on Aug. 11, a manager of the Daily Faith Ministry YouTube channel posted the video (archived) allegedly showing the large cross, affixed to the wall behind the altar, catching on fire during a church service. The clip's title read "A Cross Caught Fire During Mass in Dallas!!" Daily Faith Ministry also shared the video on Facebook (archived), Instagram (archived) and TikTok (archived), collectively receiving around 5.5 million views. A reverse-image search found several other users also shared the clip on the same platforms. The video's narrator told the story as follows: A giant cross suddenly ignited, forming a human silhouette in the middle of mass. It was June 15th, 2025, at 10:37 a.m. in St. Michael's Church, Dallas, Texas. Security cameras captured everything, with over 80 people present. The wooden altar began smoking at its base without explanation. By the 12th second of the video, flames burst from within, climbing rapidly and wrapping the entire cross. We from the Daily Faith Ministry are here to show you something extraordinary. For less than 3 seconds, the flames shaped a human figure with outstretched arms, like the crucified Christ. Then, the fire vanished, leaving no burn marks. Firefighters found the cross intact. Some call it coincidence. But in Luke 21:11, Jesus spoke of great signs from heaven. Could this be one of them? However, the video displayed numerous signs someone created the clip with an artificial-intelligence tool. For example, several shots of the sanctuary displayed differences in the size of the cross, including the statue representing Jesus Christ visible on the cross prior to the fire. Also, as the video continually switches shots, there were differences in chandeliers, columns, items affixed to columns and statues below the cross. Several other factors proved someone fabricated the story, as well. Searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo located no news media outlets — including those based in Dallas — reporting about a cross bursting into flames in Dallas in 2025. Had such an incident occurred, and had someone captured the moment on video, outlets worldwide would have reported the stunning development. Also, the video's narrator — a voice resembling AI-generated voices featured in past fact checks — said "security cameras captured everything." However, the only view of the alleged fire showed the perspective from a parishioner's handheld camera or smartphone, and no footage from security cameras. Further, the narrator said the fire occurred at a church named St. Michael's Church in Dallas. A search for a church in Dallas matching that name found only Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church. As confirmed by a photo (archived) hosted on the church's Facebook page, Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church has a sanctuary that does not match the appearance of the one shown in the AI-generated video. Snopes emailed Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church to ask about the claim and will update this article if we receive further information. Looking for the original post One of the earliest postings of the video, if not the original post, appeared in a clip (archived) on the @retolamysusnoticias TikTok account on July 20. That video, receiving over 11.7 million views, featured a puppet, as well as a Spanish-language narrator telling basically the same fabricated story later appearing in English in the Daily Faith Ministry clip. The Daily Faith Ministry's video displays only the top of the puppet's head, showing @retolamysusnoticias' post served as the basis for whoever edited other elements on top of the puppet. A caption appearing in the clip claimed, without providing evidence, that the Vatican demanded to know how the fire started. The @retolamysusnoticias TikTok account also featured other AI-generated videos showing a man turning into a goat, a lion walking the street in Detroit, scientists finding the city of Atlantis and an exorcism, among others. We reached out to a manager for the account to ask questions, including inquiring about the AI tool they used to create their clips. We will update this story if we receive details. For further reading, another fact-check investigated a story claiming a drifter named Ronald McDonald murdered 12 children in 1892, inspiring the modern-day McDonald's fast-food chain mascot of the same name. "Search with an Image on Google - Computer." Google Search Help, "Saint Michael and All Angels - Dallas, TX." Saint Michael and All Angels, Accessed 15 Aug. 2025.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ogle County dog rescue bringing multiple rescues together for September event in Oregon
Aug. 17—An Ogle County all breed dog rescue is bringing multiple rescues together for a September event where people can hang out with adoptable dogs. The fifth annual event will be held at Carnation Park, 1 Webster St. in Oregon from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 27. Aside from seeing the dogs, attendees can grab a bite to eat while shopping vendors for dog products and service providers and participate in activities with prizes for kids, Bonafied rescue owner Melodee Hoffman told Shaw Local. Those looking to be a vendor at the event are required to pay a $20 fee and turn in the sign-up form to Bonafied at Box 66, Oregon, IL 61061. Vendors are also asked to donate a basket, product or service valued at $15 to $20 that will be included in prizes. Bonafied, which stands for Bring Out Natural Abilities Found in Every Dog, was founded in 2017 with the goal to match orphaned dogs with loving families. To do that, the rescue has a comprehensive adoption and education process, Hoffman said. The rescue takes in dogs of any age, breed or physical condition. All dogs are then spayed or neutered, given the appropriate veterinary care, and are placed in foster homes prior to adoption, she said. September's event is intended to raise awareness and educate the public about the overpopulation and need for homes for the animals that would otherwise be euthanized, Hoffman said. All funds raised from the event will go toward the care of Bonafieds dogs. For information, contact Hoffman at bonafied@ or 815-973-9162. Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
Dog's Microchip Connects Shelter to Home Far Away—But a Cruel Twist Awaits
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When a dog named Baby Bear arrived at a West Virginia shelter earlier this summer, staff followed routine intake procedures and scanned his microchip. What they discovered has broken hearts among social-media users. In a post shared on Facebook on August 7 by the SPCA Florida, the shelter says that the microchip didn't link to a local owner—but instead traced back to SPCA Florida, a no-kill shelter in Lakeland. "Baby Bear was once adopted from SPCA Florida. But somehow … he ended up hundreds of miles away, in West Virginia, where he was turned into a shelter there—the team scanned his microchip, hoping to find his family. They called … but got no response," the post adds. "So the shelter called us, we knew we had to act fast—because, unlike SPCA Florida, that shelter didn't have a no-kill policy. Time was running out." From left: Baby Bear waits at the airfield next to a private plane; and stands with a volunteer sat on the floor. From left: Baby Bear waits at the airfield next to a private plane; and stands with a volunteer sat on the floor. SPCA Florida With almost no time left for Baby Bear, a hero pilot stepped in to help, donating his "time and wings" to save his life. Randa Richter, SPCA Florida humane programs and public media director, in Lakeland, Florida, told Newsweek that Baby Bear was once adopted from their shelter in 2022, and the staff still don't know how he arrived in West Virginia. "The shelter in West Virginia he was dumped at tried reaching out to the adopter that was listed on the microchip, as well as we tried reaching out to them; no answer or response from them. The shelter he was at reached out to us, since he was originally adopted from us," Richter said. "Of course, we will always take our animals back. I reached out to our supporters and animal lovers, Mark and Donna, who have flown many animals for us over the years. In fact, almost 500 animals they have transported for us." After explaining Baby Bear's situation to Mark and Donna, and asking if they could fly him to Florida on their private plane, they agreed, and the dog flew without fear or hesitation. Now the 10-year-old, laid-back, "gentle soul" is relaxing at the no-kill shelter, and ready for his "furever home." The video quickly went viral on social media and has so far received over 5,100 views and 125 comments. One user, Valerie Barcellona, commented: "Someone adopt this beautiful boy, he needs someone to love, he has a sad story that needs to be turned into joy, fun and treats." Audrey Stager Stansbury added: "Thank you to the pilots who are the lifesaving link, and to Florida SPCA for standing by your pets." Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@ with some details about your best friend, and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
