Several hundred dollars in cash was stolen during a burglary at the Laurens County airport. The Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the airport at 9:05 yesterday morning after a man who arrived to open the office for the day discovered the office door was broken open, as well as a filing cabinet inside. Approximately $687 was taken from a money-box in a top drawer. Money stored at another location was still there. Investigators Shelton and Alexander called to investigate the burglary and theft from the county airport.

  Some locations just deserve two plans.

  At yesterday afternoon’s meeting of Clinton City Council, City Manager Frank Stovall recommended to Mayor Pro Tempore Danny Cook and Council that they pass a resolution supporting two plans affecting the former Martha Dendy Sixth Grade Center.

  Mr. Stovall began by describing to Council the current condition of the building.  One newer section is in fairly good condition but the older section of the building has fallen into serious disrepair.  A section of roof has failed and the intrusion of water plus some degree of vandalism have combined to render that section of the facility beyond economical repair.  He estimated the cost to repair to be $750,000 to One Million Dollars.

  The Redevelopment Plan he placed before Council involves demolition of the older structure and renovation of the newer part of the building containing the gym.  He explained that the city had acquired a Community Development Block Grant which would cover some 90% of the cost of the first phase of the project, about $500,000, with the city’s expenditure being $50,000.

  In order for the work to proceed, however, there has to be another plan.  Because the Martha Dendy site is of significant historic importance to the community, a Historic Preservation Plan must be submitted for approval to the South Carolina Historic Preservation Office.  The resolution he asked Council to pass would endorse this plan.

  After discussion, Council voted unanimously to endorse both plans by resolution and, thus to proceed with Phase One which would include partial demolition of the structure, landscaping and renovation of adjacent basketball courts.

  Further grant funding will be sought to complete the project which will eventually include a community center and additional park features.

   Laurens City Police and the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office reportedly have multiple charges for a man arrested this morning following a police chase.

  The chase reportedly began at 2:52 this morning on Marion Street in Laurens and continued out into the county. It ended on Cow Trail Road off Highway 221 North in the Ora Community.

   A male subject was taken into custody. He was being held for charges from both Laurens Police and the Sheriff’s Office. The city was expected to have charges of Driving under Suspension and Failure to Stop for a Blue Light while the Sheriff’s Office reportedly has charges ranging from traffic to drug offenses pending on the subject.

  South Carolina Congressman Jeff Duncan of Laurens yesterday challenged the Obama Administration’s plans to take action in Syria as result of the use of chemical weapons. Addressing Secretary of State Kerry in a Congressional Hearing televised on c-span, Congressman Duncan help up the picture of a Navy Seal killed in the attack on the American consulate in Benghazi last year, saying Americans want answers to what happened in Benghazi before we commit troops somewhere else. “These issues call into question the accountability of this administration, it’s commitment to personnel on the ground and the judgment that it uses when making these determinations. The American people deserve answers before we move forward talking about military involvement in Syria.”

   Secretary of State Kerry said the administration’s plans are not about putting boots on the ground and getting involved in the Syrian Civil War. “This is about enforcing the principal that people shouldn’t be allowed to gas their citizens with impunity. And if we don’t vote to do this, Assad will interpret from you that he’s free to go and do this any day he wants to. That’s what this is about, not getting involved in Syria’s Civil war.”

  …part of the exchange between Secretary of State John Kerry and Congressman Jeff Duncan from Laurens County yesterday, covered on c-span.

   The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces a preliminary number of eight people being killed on South Carolina highways during the Labor Day holiday period from Friday, August 30, at 6 p.m. until Monday, September 2, at midnight.

  A report notes that as of September 2^nd, 472 people have died on South Carolina highways, compared to 552 highway deaths in this same time period in 2012.

   Of the 472 people killed on our state’s roadways so far in 2013, 312  in automobiles, 80 were motorcyclists, 54 were pedestrians and 8 were bicyclists.

   The Laurens County fatality count is even better improved from last year. As of September 2^nd 2012 there had been 16 people killed in Laurens County traffic. This year, thru Midnight Monday night, that number was reduced to 7 fatalities. That’s even a bit lower than the previous two years.

   Of neighboring counties also showing improvement this year, Newberry County is down from 9 last year to only 1 so far for 2013, Greenwood County down from 5 to 3, Spartanburg from 32 to 21 and Anderson County is down from 28 to 18.

   Greenville County is up slightly from last year. There were 43 fatalities through last September 2^nd but 44 for this year. Abbeville and Union Counties had been holding steady with last year, but that has changed as of midnight Monday night, September 2^nd. Abbeville County has taken a serious turn for the worse, moving from 3 fatalities at this point last year to 7 as of September 2^nd, 2013. Union County now has 2 fatalities for 2013, compared to only 1 in 2012.

  Saluda County remains even with last year, with 4 fatalities through midnight September 2^nd.

   The Clinton Public Library has a new lease on…….well, on the building it occupies.

At Tuesday’s meeting of Clinton City Council, City Manager Frank Stovall asked Council to approve a lease extension for the Clinton Public Library in the College Station Shopping Center on Jacobs Highway in Clinton.  For the first time since 2009, this year’s extension included an increase in the lease cost.

  The lease price has held steady at $17,400 per year but this year, the property’s owner, GYG, LLC submitted a lease renewal which included an increase of $1800 to $19,200 per year.

  After discussion, council did vote to extend the lease for a one year term which was effective retroactively to September 1^, 2013.  The extension will expire August 31, 2014.

  The Clinton Public Library is a partnership between the City of Clinton and Laurens County.  The city pays the rent, utilities, maintains the heating and cooling systems and provides janitorial services.  Laurens County provides staff, library books and other necessary equipment.

  The lease payment was included in the city’s budget but without the $1800 increase.  Mr. Stovall informed Council that the Laurens County Library System will provide $1800 from their funds to cover the increase in lease cost for this year.

  After discussion, Council voted to approve the lease extension.

  Bond was denied yesterday on a 1^st Degree Burglary charge. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office arrested 28-year-old Eric Simpson of 283 Georgia Acres, Gray Court around 3 yesterday morning after allegedly finding him inside the house of a former girlfriend. He had reportedly sent text messages to her from her house while she was in Simpsonville, so she called the Sheriff’s office around 2am and met with a Deputy at Gray Court Town Hall prior to driving to her home. A warrant served yesterday states that on September 4^th Eric Antwon Simpson entered another dwelling on Georgia Acres without consent and with intent to commit a crime therein, and that the entry occurred at night.

  While bond was denied on the 1^st Degree Burglary charge, a $620 bond was set on another charge of Simple Possession of Marijuana.

   Eric Simpson remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

    Charges of Distribution of Crack Cocaine, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Assault of a Police Officer with a Deadly Weapon, Failing to Stop for a Blue Light and Driving with Driver’s License under Suspension were served on a Hickory Tavern resident yesterday by Laurens City Police, following a police chase from around 2:52 am until just after 3 o’clock. 30-year-old Lawrence Veltree Woodruff of 13084 Highway 101 South, Gray Court is accused of was charged by Laurens Police with having a gram of crack cocaine in two containers and 31.9 grams of marijuana also in his possession on Marion Street yesterday morning. He reportedly fled when Laurens City Officer Charles Simmons followed him from surveillance on Conway Avenue, allegedly ramming his police car on Sumter Street. County Deputies were also in the area because they had a Bench Warrant for his arrest from a December, 2011 conviction on Driving Under Suspension, 2^nd Offense.  During the police chase through Wattsville, Officer Simmons reportedly took evasive action to warn an oncoming civilian motorist about to collide head-on with the fleeing vehicle, while the subject was reportedly driving on the wrong side of the highway. The chase ended in the Ora Community after the subject turned off US 221 onto Cow Trail Road and tried to flee on foot at that road’s dead end.  Bonds on the Laurens City charges were set totaling $96,000 yesterday.  The Highway Patrol also charged Woodruff with Failure to Secure a Vehicle and with Leaving the Scene of a wreck. The Sheriff’s Office served Lawrence Woodruff with a 2^nd Offense Driving under Suspension conviction from Magistrate’s Court in December of 2011. Woodruff remained in the Johnson Detention Center this morning.

One person was medivaced from Downtown Clinton after being struck by a train around 7:30 this morning. The train stopped, blocking rush hour traffic on West Carolina and North Broad Streets.

    Clinton morning rush-hour traffic was snarled for an extended time for the third day this week after a 58-year-old Kinards area man was struck by a train Downtown around 7:30 yesterday morning. Public Safety Officer Byers was dispatched to Broad at Main at 7:31 and found an officer who had just finished a shift was already on scene rendering aid to the man. Both officers continued assisting the man until fire and EMS arrived.

   The train conductor told Officer Byers that the train had just crossed over Carolina Avenue and was arriving at the North Broad crossing when he observed the man walking near the tracks, and that he appeared to be crossing the railroad. He said the man stepped over the rail and began walking eastbound in the middle of the tracks with his back to the train. The conductor indicated that the rail crossing lights were working properly, and that he blew the horn in an attempt to get the man’s attention but he didn’t get off the tracks. The conductor then applied emergency brakes, but even at a relatively slow speed it took some 248 feet for the train to come to a stop. The man was reportedly drug under the train some 38 feet. He was under the train in a fetal position with a severe cut observed to the side of his face.

The man was airlifted for medical treatment. The train was able to move and restore traffic flow by about 9:40 yesterday morning.

   Governor Nikki Haley yesterday named Bryan P. Stirling as the acting director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC), effective October 1^st. Current director, William R. Byars Jr. announced his retirement in August after having served as the head of the SCDC for three years. Bryan Stirling has been Governor Haley’s Chief of Staff since October of 2012 and served as South Carolina’s Deputy Attorney General from 2006 to 2012.

  “Over the past three years our prison population has decreased and the recidivism rate is now at a 20 year low – proving that our reforms are working,” said Gov. Nikki Haley. “When it came time to think of someone for the Department of Corrections, I wanted someone I knew I could work well with, someone that knows how I feel about our prison system, and someone that I trusted. That person is Bryan Stirling and I am both proud and confident in his ability to continue the great work Judge Byars has established.”

  The appointment gets a good review locally. “I approve of the governor’s appointment,” said Representative Mike Pitts. “I’ve worked closely on law enforcement issues with Bryan while he was at the Attorney General’s office and during his time at the governor’s office.”

  Other support comes from Senator Mike Fair, who said “Bryan is an excellent choice to lead the DOC…His experience at the Attorney General’s Office and time spent working with law enforcement will be a tremendous asset for the department. Bryan’s reputation is impeccable and he has consistently served with distinction.”

  Alan Wilson said “As Deputy Attorney General, I frequently relied on Bryan Stirling’s expertise and counsel. He not only gained my utmost trust, but his leadership skills earned him the respect of his colleagues in the Attorney General’s Office.  I know Bryan will display that same leadership and ability as he moves on to the next phase of his career.”  

  Bryan Stirling will be transitioning over the next several weeks and officially begin his duties as director beginning October 1, 2013.

   A Clinton man was being held for multiple charges this morning following an incident involving gunfire in the Waterloo area last night. The Sheriff’s office was dispatched to Shaw Court, Waterloo at 9:38 pm. As officers arrived they were able to block a suspect from leaving the narrow roadway.

  Deputy Tim Byrd reports that there were reports that the subject had been heard making threats against a woman. Those hearing the threats reportedly included the mother of the intended victim. The man then reportedly drove on the roadway firing a gun from his vehicle.

68-year-old Raymond Boyce Lawson of 4741 Highway 308, Clinton was arrested and placed in the Laurens County Detention Center. He was being held this morning pending warrants. Deputies were seeking to charge him with Possession of a Weapon Possession During a Violent Crime, Unlawful Carrying of a Firearm and with three counts of Pointing and Presenting.

Deputies were also investigating the possibility of an assault charge.

    A campaign is afoot to fund major facelift at Clinton High School’s Wilder Stadium.

Former Clinton High School Football Coach Keith Richardson is part of a committee that is working on this project. In an interview released this morning on the CHS Athletic web site and on local radio, Richardson said he’s pleased to be working on something that’s so close to him. “I was really pleased that someone would ask me to participate in this because it is something that is very close to me. Something I feel that is desperately needed today.”

  In the interview, also broadcast on WLBG this morning, Richardson recalled the excitement generated by the expansion of Wilder Stadium in early 70’s and the big impact it had on the team and the community. He said the improvements targeted in this new campaign are to make big changes to the appearance and functionality of Wilder Stadium to help put Clinton High Athletics back on the map.

  Planned improvements are prioritized to be accomplished based on the support received from the community. Richardson said the basic structure will not change, but the appearance and function of Wilder Stadium will be.     

  The first goal noted is a new Admissions building at the end-zone near the Tennis Courts, greeting the fans entering the stadium. Next would be a remodeling of the press box, the seating for the boosters, then construction of a building at the other end zone that can be used by both home and visiting teams, officials and the chain crew.

  Coach Keith Richardson said plans then are to add a Jumbo-Tron at the scoreboard to enhance activities from replays to other visual events in the stadium. He said the plan also hopes to add field turf to the stadium to make it more of a multi-functional facility.  

   Coach Keith Richardson said the plan is to accomplish the improvements with donated money so it will not be paid by tax dollars. He said he hopes folks will keep welcoming him as he works to raise the funds needed. “I hope all this goes the way we want it to go. I don’t want people in the community, when they see me coming, to turn their back and walk away. I want them to at least give me a chance to explain what we’re doing and why we think it’s important.”

   The campaign for Wilder Stadium is being kicked off with informational pamphlets being passed out tonight at the 1^st home game of the season at Wilder Stadium.

  Laurens Police were dispatched to the 100 block of Oakland Heights at 11:37 Saturday night o investigate a report of malicious damage. Damage was estimated at $800. The resident said a long-time acquaintance of his from Fountain Inn had been asleep at his house. He said when he returned from a neighbor’s house he awoke his friend, asleep in the bedroom, so he could go home. The resident said the friend “flipped out,” took some Samurai swords from the wall in the complainant’s bedroom and threw one thought the bedroom window. He took the other sword and cut that head board of the resident’s bed. The complainant said that his visitor kicked the front door on leaving the house, damaging it as well.

   Another man has been charged in connection with the theft of metals from a residence on Woodland Drive outside Clinton this summer. The Laurens County Sheriff’s Office Friday booked 31-year-old Scott Thomas Prather of 807 Ferguson Street, Clinton on charges of Grand Larceny and Theft of Metals. Sgt. Scott Franklin states that between July 19th and August 19th Scott Prather carried metals and copper wire from 47 Woodland Drive, Clinton and allowed others to do so as well. The Grand Larceny warrant notes value of the stolen metals exceeded $10,000. Scott Prather was released from the Johnson Detention Center Friday on personal recognizance bonds totalling $20,000 on the two charges.

 A man arrested by Laurens City Police Friday night for an alleged assault in August was charged by Clinton Public Safety Saturday for an alleged weapons’s violation this past Friday night. 17-year-old Tony Ray Sherfield Jr. of 702 Edwards Road, Greenville was charged by Laurens Police with Assault and Battery 2nd Degree. Officer James Nolen states that on August 29th in the Wal-Mart parking lot Tony Ray Sherfield Jr. punched the victim in the jaw causing injury that include bruising and a fracture in the jaw area. 

 Clinton Public Safety charged Sherfield Saturday with Carrying a Weapon on School Property on Friday, September 6th. Public Safety Officer Ritter states that the defendant had a knife in his possession at the Clinton High Football stadium Friday that was in excess of two inches.

  Sherfield was released from the Johnson Detention Center Saturday afternoon on a $10,000 Surety Bond for the Laurens Assault charge and a $1500 personal recognizance bond for the Clinton Weapons charge.

   A large crowd was on hand at Presbyterian College for the annual United Way Campaign Kick-Off Luncheon Friday. Director Tara Glenn introduced a video featuring comments from staff, volunteers and clients served by a representative sample of the twenty partner agencies in Laurens County.

   We asked United Way Director Tara Glenn about this year’s goal of $525,000. “We believe that this community can come together and raise that money and do even more than we’re able to do by raising that. So we’re excited about this year, new things going on, you’ll see lots of local faces on local material just like the video we showed today. So…we’re hoping to bring it home!”

   As examples of what can be accomplished, she recognized seven business partners in Laurens County that had significant increases during their “Campaign with Excellence.”

  She noted that Asten Johnson was up 28%, Belk was up 27%, the City of Clinton’s United Way campaign had a 41% increase and the Good Sheppard Free Medical Clinic’s Campaign with Excellence was up 42%! Glenn noted the local hospital has always been an important part of the United Way campaign, and announced that Laurens County Memorial Hospital’s campaign went up 20%. Other increases included a 26% increase for the Safe Home and a 62% increase for 1^st Steps of Laurens County.  

  United Way Director Tara Glenn announced the winner of this year’s C. Bailey Dixon Volunteerism and Philanthropy Award is Ruth Rackley. We asked Ruth why she volunteers for the United Way: “Well I can see the difference that it does for our community, and it’s impacting here at home. It’s not something that you give to a nationwide program and you never get to see the effects of it. It happens right here, it changes lives here in Clinton and Laurens; all of Laurens County.”

   Glenn said that the 20 partner agencies of the United Way serve thousands of people each year here in Laurens County. With some examples, she noted the United Way is helping 800 plus people who do not have health insurance receive medical care through the Good Sheppard Free Medical Clinic, helping over 80 homeless men through the Open Door Shelter and over 45 Disabilities and Special Needs people receive assistance through a Wellness Clinic twice a month. Other examples of meeting human needs were displayed in a video presentation at Friday’s United Way Kickoff Banquet.

Possession with Intent to Distribute is among the charges facing a Spartanburg County woman today following an incident on Bermuda Drive, Laurens last night. Laurens County Deputy Sheriff Jeremy McMahan was dispatched to the corner of Old Airport Road and Torrington Road east of Laurens at 9:56 last night and met with Dena Marie Snead of Cowpens, who reported vandalism to her car from the incident on Bermuda Drive. She claimed a man at that address became angry when she would not give him a ride and threw a rock at her car then hit it with a flashlight, causing dents. The deputy reported observing dents. Deputy McMahan was joined by Deputy Taylor and Lt. Crain of the Sheriff’s Office and Sgt. Gainey of Laurens Police in going to Bermuda Drive. A man there reportedly admitted to throwing the rock, but said Ms. Snead was trying to run over him. He had no signs of having been hit by the car. 37-year-old Thomas Allison West of 91 Bermuda Drive, Laurens was arrested and placed in the Johnson Detention Center, to be charged with Malicious Damage. A BB gun was taken as evidence. Officers were unable to retrieve a substance that had been partially flushed down the toiler at the Bermuda Drive residence,.

  Based on allegations of drug possession he made on Ms. Snead, Officers went back to the location where she had been and found her there. Sgt. Timmons asked for permission to search the vehicle.  Officers reportedly located a small brown book bag filled with several types of pills, a plastic baggy containing a rock-like substance believed to be crystal meth, and a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana that was packaged in three different bags. Further searching allegedly located several roaches along with a crack pipe and some scales. She did not have a prescription for the various pills.

 After the search was complete the vehicle was towed. 37-year-old Dena Marie Sneed of 270 Country Haven Drive, Cowpens was arrested and placed in the Johnson Detention Center. Warrants were being sought to charge her with Possession of Marijuana with intent to Distribute, Possession of Methamphetamine and Illegal Possession of Schedule I, II and III drugs. Both Ms. Snead and Mr. West were being held pending arraignment.

     Laurens County Council last night gave unanimous approval to an ordinance authorizing the county to issue $3.7 million in bonds for constructing a new 18,000 square foot county administrative office.

    The 1^st reading vote last night came on recommendation of council’s Committee on Public Works, which met earlier this month with Project Architect Dennis Ashley along with the county Public Works Director and County Administrator. Public Works Committee Chair Joe Wood said the two-story office building will be located at the end of the Hillcrest complex and will conform to the existing building’s façade. Wood also said a required 68 parking spaces will be located behind the building.

   The project is estimated to cost somewhere between $3.5 and $3.7 million. Regarding the $3.7 million authorized in the ordinance, Bond Counsel Theodore DuBoise pointed out that council can lower the money to be raised by the bond sale prior to 3^rd and final reading, but it cannot raise the amount.

Council also discussed options for possibly using some existing county funds to cover part of the cost of construction.

   Council Chairman Jim Coleman invited county residents to the existing County Administrative Officers at Church Street to see for themselves the crowed and outdated conditions that they are working with now. County Administrator Ernie Segars pointed out that with the new building all of the county administrative functions can be under one roof.