MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) -- A Marlboro County dam critical to holding back floodwaters into Bennettsville and other areas is set for a $25 million repair in the coming years, officials announced this week.

Last May, internal erosion led a catastrophic breach of Lake Paul Wallace Dam, send water from 300-acre lake coursing into the city’s Shady Rest and Richardson Park communities, prompting evacuations and forcing a virtual learning day for Marlboro School District.

"It was a sad day for all of us here in Marlboro County, and has left the lake drained and unusable," Lake Paul Wallace Authority chairman Sully Blair told the Bennettsville City Council Monday night.

Built in 1955, state regulators said last year it's one of nine "high-hazard" dams in poor condition statewide -- sparkin

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